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LIBRARY 

OF  THK 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


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i855— AUTHOR'S  JUBILEE  EDITION— 1905 
Limited  to  150  Copies 


ELIAS 

.An  E,pic  of  tKe  Ages 


By 
Orson  Ferguson  WHitney 


New  TTorK 


TTbe 


1904 


Copyright,  1904 

by 
O.  F.  WHITNEY 


Fitl)  tl|p  rnmpltmrntfl  nf  tl^r  Jtftrat  prrHtbrnrg  nf  thr 
li  nf  3rau0  (Ehrtst  nf  Hattrr-bag 


Irrrmhrr 
I      1305 


To  President  Joseph  F.  Smith 

This  song  to  thee,  friendf  chieftain,  sixth  to  rise 
From  him,  the  foremost  of  a  seeric  line, 
Mock  of  the  worldly,  marvel  of  the  wise, — 
His  martyred  brother's  son  I     May  light  divine, 
Which  'lumined  them,  forever  on  thee  shine, 
Flooding  with  splendors  new  thy  lineal  fame  / 
And  ancient  rays  with  modern  beams  combine 
To  glorify  a  brow  whose  stalwart  aim 
To  merit  heaven's  high  praise,  nor  fear  a  world's  false  blame  I 


Th 


erne 


"And  if  you  will  receive  it,  this  is  Ellas,  which  was 
to  come  to  gather  together  the  tribes  of  Israel  and  re" 
store  all  things." 


Argument 

HE  aim  of  this  poem  is  to  point  out  those  manifestations 
of  the  Divine  Mind,  those  impulsions  of  human  enter 
prise,  to  which  have  been  due  in  all  ages  the  progress 
of  the  race  toward  perfection. 

Thus  it  deals  not  only  with  earth's  redemption  and  ultimate 
glorification,  but  with  events  and  epochs  leading  up  to  and  hav 
ing  those  greater  ends  as  their  decreed  consummation.  The 
Christ  theme,  in  its  pre-existent  and  earthly  phases,  is  supple 
mented  by  the  sacred  and  secular  history  of  man  upon  both 
hemispheres.  God's  direct  dealings,  through  prophets,  apostles, 
and  other  inspired  agents,  and  His  indirect  dealings  through  poets, 
painters,  philosophers,  statesmen,  kings,  conquerors,  and  the 
like,  are  indicated,  and  the  experiences  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
in  various  Gospel  dispensations  portrayed.  The  title  "Elias," 
signifying  restoration  and  preparation, — the  lesser  going  before 
the  greater  with  those  objects  in  view, — is  used  to  denote  and 
personify  the  genius  of  progress,  whose  beneficent  workings, 
under  the  guidance  of  the  Infinite  Spirit,  through  the  aeons  and 
the  ages,  behind  the  scenes  and  upon  the  stage  of  human  action, 
are  the  thread,  warp,  and  woof  of  the  entire  poem.  The  medial 
point  is  the  dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times,  the  era  of  resti 
tution,  when  the  house  of  God  is  to  be  set  in  order  and  all  things 
in  Christ  gathered  into  one. 

The  poem  is  in  twelve  parts.  Following  a  brief  prelude — the 
announcement  of  the  author's  purpose — the  first  book  or  canto 
describes  his  spiritual  awakening. 

vii 


viii  Argument 

The  next  represents  him  as  soliloquizing  upon  his  native 
mountains,  where  he  meets  the  Soul  of  Song,  and  is  inspired  to 
sing  the  epic  of  time  and  eternity. 

The  poem  proper  begins  with  the  third  book — a  pre-existent 
glimpse — the  choosing  of  Messiah  and  the  rebellion  of  Lucifer, 
supplemented  by  the  Saviour's  descent  to  earth,  His  crucifixion 
and  return  to  glory. 

The  fourth  is  mainly  an  allegory  of  the  Christian  dispensation, 
following  the  death  of  Jesus  and  His  forerunner,  and  showing 
the  departure  from  the  primitive  faith  after  the  passing  of  the 
apostolic  twelve,  one  of  whom — the  Church  having  gone  into  the 
Wilderness — remains  to  testify  of  things  to  come. 

The  fifth  opens  the  last  act  in  the  redemptive  drama, — the 
final  restoration  of  the  Gospel, — with  Joseph  the  Seer,  as  the 
Elias  of  the  scene,  heralding  the  glad  tidings. 

The  sixth  embodies  the  pre-historic  story  of  America,  as 
sumed  to  have  been  related  by  the  angel  custodian  to  the  trans 
lator  of  the  buried  Book  of  Gold. 

In  canto  seven  are  summarized  those  sublime  doctrines  which 
came  directly  to  the  modern  revelator  during  and  subsequent  to 
the  translating  of  the  ancient  plates.  A  vision  of  the  dispensa 
tions  is  involved — the  reading  of  the  book  of  time  and  the  volume 
of  eternity. 

The  three  succeeding  parts  present  the  history  of  the  latter- 
day  Church  from  its  inception  to  the  martyrdom  of  its  founder, 
who  is  pictured  as  foretelling  to  his  people  their  great  destiny. 

The  epilogue  is  mainly  an  address  to  and  a  response  from 

Elias,  the  angel  of  restoration. 

0.  F.  W. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY,  July  i,  1904. 


Contents 


Prelude 

Canto  I         As  From  a  Dream  .... 

Canto  II        The  Soul  of  Song     .        .        . 

Canto  III      Elect  of  Elohim       .... 

Canto  IV       Night  and  the  Wilderness 

Canto  V        The  Messenger  of  Morn  .        .        . 

Canto  VI       From  Out  the  Dust 

Canto  VII     The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite 

Canto  VIII    The  Lifted  Ensign  .... 

Canto  IX      Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine 

Canto  X        The  Parted  Veil     .        . 

Epilogue 


PAGE 

i 

5 

17 

27 

39 

5i 

67 

PI 

107 

123 

137 

155 


Illustrations 

PAGE 

Morn's  Messenger  (Drawing  by  H.  L.  A.  Culmer) 

Frontispiece 

A  Noble  of  the  Skies  (Drawing  by  Lee  Greene  Richards)  .  52 

Ramah-Cumorah  (Drawing  by  H.  L.  A.  Culmer)        .  .  69 

Earth  Opes  her  Jaws  (Drawing  by  H.  L.  A.  Culmer)  .  .  82 

The  Angel  Ascendant  (Drawing  by  J.  S.  Sears)            .  .  157 


"CYBRA 
v  or  THE 

(   UNIVERSITY  J 
or 


MORN'S  MESSENGER 

— "  Night's  sceptre  wanes, 
And  in  the  East  the  silvery  Messenger 
Gives  silent  token  of  the  golden  Dawn." 


Prelude 


Prelude 


HE  work  for  Him  I  asked  and  aimed  to  do, 
Ere  death  should  claim  my  dust,  my  spirit  free, — 
That  looking  down  from  where  the  wise  and  true 


Inherit  glory,  gracious  eyes  might  see 
A  spark  I  kindled  beaming  endlessly, 
And  lighting  other  wanderers  to  the  goal 
Which  gave  the  life  that  is  the  life  to  be;— 
Now  done,  or  well  or  ill,  the  lettered  scroll 
Of  what  is  writ  on  heart  and  mind  I  here  unroll. 


Canto  I 
As  From  a  Dream 


or  THE 
UNIVERSITY 


As  From  a  Dream 

OUTH'S  morn  was  breaking  when  I  dreamed  a  dream, 
Splendrous  as  springtime's  weft  of  wonders  rare ; 
Idyl  of  beauty,  rainbow-hued  romance, 


Glory  of  love  and  glamor  of  renown. 
I  dreamed  of  man  as  generous  and  just, 
While  woman  was  to  me  divinity. 

Wealth  wooed  I  not,  nor  power — to  wear  the  sign 

And  wave  the  symbol  of  authority; 

To  speak,  and  have  hosts  tremble ;  or  to  frown, 

And  find  all  pale  and  prostrate  at  my  feet ; 

To  sway  men's  minds,  as  breeze  the  swinging  boughs, 

Save  't  were  in  duty's  name,  in  virtue's  cause, 

By  tongue  of  thunder  or  by  pen  of  flame ; 

Or  by  some  wise,  sublime,  benefic  deed, 

Some  word  or  work  of  merit  and  of  might, 

To  fix  the  fleeting  gaze  of  centuries. 

Glory  and  love — these  were  my  guides  divine, 

The  planet  passions  of  my  destiny, 

The  Baal  and  Astoreth  to  whom  I  bowed, 

A  Canaanite,  in  rapt  idolatry. 

And  at  the  feet  of  these  dear  deities, 

Careless  of  great  Jehovah's  smile  or  frown, 

7 


8  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

In  the  fresh  morning  of  my  youth's  fair  might, 
Slumbering,  I  dreamed,  till  golden  grew  the  dawn. 

A  strange  and  stern  awakening — the  sky, 
So  calm,  so  clear,  now  craped  with  angry  clouds, 
Tortured  and  torn  with  crackling  tongues  of  fire. 
Crash  follows  crash,  and  bolt  on  bolt  descends, 
Till  earth,  air,  heaven,  seem  wrapt  in  roaring  flame. 
And  when  the  rifted  storm  has  rolled  away, 
And  stillness  reascends  her  solemn  throne, 
Ruin  looks  forth  from  retrospection's  tower, 
And  memory  weeps  where  desolation  reigns. 

It  was  the  end.     Dispelled  illusion's  dream; 
My  soul  shook  off  its  fetters  and  was  free ; 
But  most  fond  ideals  I  had  reared  in  youth, 
Lay  level  with  the  dust  ere  manhood's  prime. 

I  slept  and  dreamed  no  more ;  I  was  awake ! 
And  saw  and  heard  with  other  eyes  and  ears, 
Which  taught  me  things  unseen,  unheard  before ; 
Things  new  and  old — old  as  eternity— 
Old  e'en  to  time,  though  new  and  strange  to  me. 

I  talked  with  Truth  on  solemn  mountain  tops; 
I  soared  with  winged  thought  the  sunlit  dome ; 
Studied  the  midnight  stars;  and  when  the  storms 
In  supermortal  might  went  forth  to  war, 
Bestrode  the  tempest  as  a  battle  steed, 
Grasping  the  volted  lightnings  as  they  flew, 


As  From  a  Dream 

And  thundering  through  the  mists  on  things  below. 
Rejoicing  in  my  new-found  strength,  I  gave 
Glory  to  Him,  the  source  and  Sire  of  all; 
That  God  whom  I  had  neither  loved  nor  feared, 
That  God  whom  now  I  worshipped  and  adored ; 
Who  girdled  me  with  light — truth's  triple  key, 
Unlocking  has  been,  is  and  e'er-to-be, 
Chasing  death's  gloom,  life's  three-fold  mystery, 
Solving  the  secret — whither,  whence,  and  why. 

0  wondrous  transformation !  when  the  wand, 
Awakening  wand  of  truth — life-lifting  power — 
Waved  o'er  the  cross  where  hung  fond  hopes  impaled, 
Waved  o'er  the  tomb  where  loved  ambitions  lay, 
Touched  the  strewn  fragments  of  my  shattered  dream, 
Bidding  the  dead  arise  in  bodies  new, 
Building,  on  ruined  hope,  faith's  battlement, 
Crowned  with  love's  palace,  pinnacled  in  light — 
In  glory  greater  than  earth's  grandest  dream, 
Than  glittering  fame's  most  splendid  spectacle ; 
Ideal  transcending  ideality, 
Ideal  made  real  past  all  reality. 

No  natural  eye  could  see  what  then  I  saw; 

No  natural  ear,  what  then  I  heard,  could  hear; 

When  the  all-searching  Spirit  tore  the  veil 

Of  things  that  seem,  and  showed  me  things  that  are. 

Beauty,  divine,  but  not  divinity, 

Not  parent — child  of  purity  and  truth; 


io  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Nor  fount,  nor  stream,  but  bubble  lost  in  air; 
Nor  tree,  nor  fruit — only  a  fragrant  flower, 
Flung  from  ambrosial  gardens,  here  to  grow, 
That  life  might  be  the  less  a  wilderness. 

But  lo !  a  loveliness  that  lives  for  aye ! 
The  bud  ephemeral  as  beautiful, 
That  withering  here,  is  there  revivified, 
Radiant  and  redolent  f orevermore ! 
The  beauty  of  the  restful  and  the  risen, 
Of  paradise  and  glory's  higher  home, 
Spirit  and  element  commingled,  one ; 
Bright  symbol  of  blest  union  yet  to  be, 
When  heaven  and  earth  are  wed  eternally. 

Beauty,  a  star,  a  lamp,  a  guide  to  heaven  ? 

'T  was  more—  't  was  heaven  itself  when  visioned  there; 

Though  here  full  oft  a  finger-post  to  hell, 

A  lure-light  o'er  the  marshes  of  despair. 

High  in  the  zenith,  smiling  still,  love  shone. 

Love,  gold  of  heaven,  mixt  with  earth's  alloy, 

Playing,  as  plays  the  sun-spot,  needful  part 

In  nature's  wise  and  true  economy; 

Love  dies  not — 't  is  love's  seeming  that  dissolves, 

Low  to  its  serpent  level,  native  dust, 

Its  grave  unmemoried  in  Lethean  ground. 

The  while  see  heaven-born,  heaven-aspiring  love, 

Immortal  Spirit  of  the  Universe, 


As  From  a  Dream  n 

Soaring  and  singing  larklike  to  the  sun ; 
Heir  to  herself,  a  self-succeeding  queen, 
Still  lingering  on  life's  throne  when  life  is  o'er! 

Was  this  the  love  that  warmed  my  boyish  breast  ? 
Was  this  the  love  that  lit  my  youthful  eye  ? 
I  know  not — this  I  know,  my  love  was  pure ; 
Pure  as  the  mountain  monarch's  ice-crowned  crest, 
Pure  as  the  snow  king's  mantle,  diamond-strewn, 
Pure  as  the  cascade's  limpid  crystalline, 
Leaping  from  cliff  to  chasm,  the  breeze-flung  flood 
Blown  into  spirit  spray  of  dazzling  sheen. 

But  pure  love,  e'en  the  purest,  may  be  blind. 

Truth  spake — then  fell  the  bandage  from  love's  eyes; 

And  fond  ones,  wedded,  who  had  wept  in  vain 

When  death's  harsh  hand  divided,  smiled  through  tears 

To  see  love's  arch,  that  only  time's  vale  spans 

To  human  vision,  forward  thrown  till  lost 

Beyond  the  mountains  of  eternity. 

0  thou,  of  beauty  loveliest  form  and  phase, 
Goddess  dethroned,  divinity  uncrowned, 
Partner  and  peer  of  human  majesty ! 
Sharing  with  him  life's  jointed  sovereignty, 
Well  canst  thou  wait  for  thrones  and  diadems. 
Queen  of  the  future,  Eve  of  coming  worlds, 
Mother  of  sun-born  myriads  yet  to  be, 
Spirits  resplendent  that  shall  people  stars, 
And  hail  thee  empress  of  a  universe ! 


12  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

No  more  was  it  of  crowning  consequence, 
That  mortal  clay  to  mortal  eye  should  shine ; 
That  human  mites  should  shout  and  sing  in  praise 
Each  of  the  other's  midget  mightiness; 
That  molecules  should  atoms  glorify. 

Apple  of  ashes  to  the  longing  lip ! 
Brine  to  the  burning  throat  and  thirsting  soul ! 
Phantom,  eidolon,  gauzy  ghost  of  fame, 
Voidest  and  vainest  of  all  vanities! 

When  was  it  great  to  loom  'mid  glittering  show  ? 

To  sit  in  highest  seat — is  that  to  shine  ? 

Largeness  or  littleness,  or  high  or  low, 

Has  but  to  breathe,  and  straightway  he  is  known. 

What  speech  conceals,  the  spirit  manifests. 

Fame,  place,  power,  title,  find  a  proper  use, 

And  rightfully  demand  all  reverence  due ; 

But  envy  not  the  empty  lot  of  him 

Who,  winning  without  merit,  wins  in  vain. 

"  Be  not  beguiled  " — truth's  vibrant  thunder  note, 
Pealing  from  clouds  that  canopied  my  lif e ; 
The  warning,  lightning-winged  to  purify, 
Up-kindling  all  the  summits  of  the  soul. 
"  Be  not  beguiled :  not  what  men  think  and  say, 
But  what  God  sees  and  knows,  is  what  avails. 

"  Who  knoweth  aught,  unknowing  of  the  all  ? 
Unknowing  all,  who  knoweth  perfectly 


As  From  a  Dream  13 

'Twixt  small  and  great,  'twixt  failure  and  success, 
'Twixt  heights  of  glory  and  the  gulfs  of  shame  ? 
What  cares  eternity  for  time's  decrees  ? 
Victor  and  vanquished  equally  may  win. 

"  Greatness,  true  greatness,  mightiness  of  mind, 

And  greater  greatness,  grandeur  of  the  soul, 

Tell  but  one  tale — capacity,  not  place, 

Capacity,  whose  sire,  experience, 

Whose  ancestors,  innate  intelligence, 

Original,  inborn  nobility, 

As  oft  in  hut  as  mansion  have  their  home. 

"  Greatness  not  gift,  but  guerdon — crown  for  all 
Who  care  to  climb ;  and  fame,  eternal  fame, 
White  as  the  shining  cloak  of  Arctic  hills, 
A  mantle  falls,  of  fadeless  purity, 
On  loftiest  lives,  that  mount  to  meet  their  source, 
And  like  to  snow-capt,  sun-kissed  peaks  sublime, 
Receive  but  to  dispense  their  blessedness. 
Who  seek  not  gifts,  but  Giver — they  shall  find 
No  sacrifice  but  changes  part  for  whole. 

"  Eternal  life  demands  a  selfless  love. 

Hampered  by  pride,  greed,  hate,  what  soul  can  grow  ? 

Conceive  a  selfish  God !    Thou  canst  not,  man ! 

Then  let  it  shame  thee  unto  higher  things. 

Fare  on,  full  sure  that  greatest  glory  comes, 

And  swiftest  growth,  from  serving  humankind. 


14  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Toil  on,  for  toil  is  treasure,  thine  for  aye ; 
A  pauper  he  who  boasts  an  empty  name." 

So  spake  the  Spirit  of  the  Infinite; 
So  fell  the  message  from  the  Monitor. 

Some  men  I  found  embodiments  of  all 

The  goodness,  all  the  greatness  I  had  dreamed ; 

Men  seeming  gods,  bestowing  benefits 

As  suns  their  beams,  as  seas  and  skies  their  showers ; 

Others  as  dwarfs,  as  despots  by  compare, 

Devoured  with  greed,  consumed  with  jealousy. 

But  truth  taught  charity,  gave  me  to  see, 
As  face  to  face  one  sees  familiar  friend, 
Why  men  are  not  alike  in  magnitude, 
Why  souls,  like  stars,  all  differ  in  degree, 
And  cannot  show  an  even  excellence, 
Unequal  in  their  first  nobility. 
Great  tells  of  greater— littleness  of  less; 
Time  a  true  shadowing  of  eternity, 
Whose  glories  fixt,  essential,  evermore. 

Some  souls,  than  others,  have  more  summits  climbed, 
More  light  absorbed,  more  moral  might  evolved ; 
Hence  wiser,  worthier  than  those  they  lead 
Through  precept's  vales,  up  steep  example's  height, 
To  where  love,  beauty,  wealth,  power,  glory,  shine. 

While  some,  innately  noble,  are  borne  down 
By  weight  of  weaknesses  inherited, 


As  From  a  Dream  15 

By  passions  fierce,  propensities  depraved, 
The  lineal  legacy  of  centuries, 
That  much  of  their  true  worthiness  obscures, 
While  spirit  strives  with  flesh  for  mastery, 
For  higher  culture  and  for  added  might. 

And  yet  anon  such  souls  effulgent  shine, 

As  bursts  the  April  beam  through  banks  of  cloud, 

In  glory  from  which  envy  shades  its  eyes, 

While,  stricken  dumb,  detraction  grounds  its  arms; 

The  glory  of  a  great  intelligence, 

Which  mortal  mists  can  dim  but  for  a  time ; 

The  fault  God-given,  lest  man  be  glorified, 

And  pride  perchance  dethrone  humility. 

Truth  taught  me  more,  but  bade  me  silent  be; 

And  I  had  teachers  else — toil,  prayer,  and  pain, 

With  days  and  nights  of  misery's  martyrdom, 

Alone  and  lorn  in  grief's  Gethsemane ; 

Till  storm  above,  and  earthquake  underneath, 

Shook  down  thought's  prison  house,  broke  bolt  and  bar, 

And  agony  set  inspiration  free. 

'T  is  thus  the  Great  Musician  tunes  the  harp 
That  He  would  strike — strikes  thus  the  harp  in  tune; 
Sweeping  with  sorrow's  hand  the  quivering  strings, 
That  they  may  cry  aloud,  and  haply  sound 
A  loftier  and  more  enduring  lay. 


Canto  II 
The  Soul  of  Song 


The  Soul  of  Song 


LONE  my  soul  upon  a  mighty  hill, 
Ancient  with  lingering  snows  of  vanished  years, 
Where  towering  forms  the  templed  azure  fill, 
Wooed  by  the  breath  of  woodland  atmospheres; 
Where  Nature,  throned  in  solitude,  reveres 
The  God  whose  glory  she  doth  symbolize, 
And  on  these  altars,  watered  by  her  tears, 
Spreads  far  around  the  fragrant  sacrifice 
Whose  incense  wafts  her  sweet  memorial  to  the  skies. 

Here  let  me  linger.     0  my  native  hills, 
Watchful  and  solemn  warders  o'er  the  waste ! 
With  what  a  joy  the  bounding  bosom  thrills, 
Whose  steps  aspiring  mar  your  summits  chaste ! 
Vain,  language — richest  robes  and  rarest  taste. 
How  clothe  description  in  befitting  dress, 
When  halts  imagination's  winged  haste, 
Wrapt  in  mute  wonder's  conscious  littleness, 
Where  loom  the  cloud-crowned  monarchs  of  the  wilderness  ? 

Where  o'er  I  roam,  and  still  have  loved  to  roam, 
From  childhood's  rose-hued,  scarce-remembered  day, 
And  found  my  pensive  soul's  congenial  home, 
Far  from  the  depths  where  human  passions  play. 

19 


2O  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Born  at  their  feet,  my  own  have  learned  to  stray 
Familiar  o'er  these  pathless  heights,  and  feel, 
As  now,  the  mind  assume  a  loftier  sway, 
Soaring  for  themes  that  o'er  its  summits  steal, 
Beyond  all  thought  to  reach,  all  utterance  to  reveal. 

Grim,  storm-plumed  guardians,  warriors  tempest-mailed! 
Federal  with  freedom,  f ortressing  her  land ! 
Had  primal  man  the  sacred  garden  tilled, 
Ere  earthly  scenes  your  early  vision  scanned  ? 
In  spirit  form  took  ye  your  Titan  stand, 
Ere  rolled  a  world- creating  fiat  forth  ? 
Or  came  ye  at  convulsion's  fierce  command, 
'Mid  loud-tongued  thunders  bursting  from  the  earth, 
The  martial  music  that  proclaimed  your  warlike  birth  ? 

Vast,  voiceless  oracles,  whose  intelligence 
Sleeps  in  the  caverns  of  each  stony  heart, 
Yet  breathes  o'er  all  a  boundless  eloquence, 
What  wealth  historic  might  your  words  impart ! 
Mute  minstrel,  hermit  of  the  hills,  apart 
From  where  thy  banded  mates  in  union  dwell ! 
A  master  lyrist  seemingly  thou  art, 
Chief  harper  of  a  host  that  round  thee  swell ; 
And  thine  the  Orphean  boon,  what  could  withstand  thy  spell  ? 

Thrice  wondrous  things  were  thine  to  wisely  scan ; 
Fast  as  thy  frozen  snow-helm,  still  in  store. 
Hadst  thou  that  melting  gift,  of  sovereign  man 
The  sunlike  glory,  thou  mightst  all  restore, 


The  Soul  of  Song  21 

And  learning's  tide  o'erwhelm  the  shining  shore 
With  rich  revealings  of  lost  realms  that  rose 
And  fell,  like  frost-hewn  flowers,  thy  face  before ; 
Causes  which  wrought  them  an  untimely  close ; 
Perchance,  of  spirit  lore,  some  mystic  mine  disclose; 

Some  secret,  whispered  in  the  graven  rock, 
Scarred  with  almighty  pen,  whose  sculpture  bold, 
Defying  time  and  tide  and  tempest  shock, 
Endures  where  seas  and  centuries  have  rolled. 
"  Oh  that  my  words!  " — What  sayest  thou,  sage  of  old  ? 
Knew  he  not  well,  ye  mighty  tomes  of  clay, 
How  firm  the  trust  your  flinty  page  might  hold  ? 
Have  ye  not  spurned  the  fiats  of  decay  ? 
Are  ye  not  standing  now  where  nations  passed  away  ? 

But  like  the  laboring  brain  that  burns  to  speak 
Unutterable  thoughts,  deep  in  its  dungeons  pent ; 
Or  liker  still  to  inward  boiling  peak 
Of  fires  volcanic,  vainly  seeking  vent 
Where  adamantine  bolts  and  bars  prevent; — 
Thou'rt  doomed  to  utter  stillness,  and  shalt  keep 
The  burden  of  thy  bearing,  till  is  rent 
Yon  heavenly  veil,  and  earth  and  air  and  deep 
Tell  secrets  that  shall  rouse  the  dead  from  solemn  sleep. 

And  must  I  be  as  mute,  0  silent  mount ! 

Muse  of  all  melody,  shall  I  not  sing  ? — 

Burst  these  dumb  bars,  when  e'en  yon  babbling  fount 

May  find  in  every  breeze  a  wafting  wing, 


22  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Afar  its  lightest  murmured  word  to  fling  ? 
Where  art  thou,  ancient  soul  of  solemn  song  ? 
Asleep  ?    Then  wake !    Wherefore  art  slumbering  ? 
The  world  hath  need  of  thee,  and  waiteth  long. 
Strike — strike  again  thy  harp,  and  thrill  the  listening  throng ! 

Thus  musing,  lone  upon  a  beetling  brow, 
Quaffing  thought's  crystal  fount,  that  sparkling  sprung, 
The  spirit  of  the  sun-kissed  torrent  flow, 
Methought  from  out  the  rocky  caves  there  rung 
A  voice  whose  tone  bewrayed  no  mortal  tongue, 
Though  softly  clear  the  mournful  cadence  broke, 
As  notes  from  off  the  weird-toned  viol  flung, 
Or  as  the  heavens  lowly  rumbling  spoke, 
Heralding  the  storm  monarch's  shout  and  shivering  stroke. 

Amazed  I  listened.     Did  I  more  than  dream  ? 
Had  random  word  aroused  unhoped  reply  ? 
Or  was  it  sound  whose  import  did  but  seem  ? 
Hark! — for  again  it  rolls  along  the  sky: 
"  Then  question  hast  thou  none?  Or  none  wouldst  ply, 
Save  to  thy  soul  in  meditative  strain, 
Or  heedless  winds  that  wander  idly  by  ? 
So  be  it ;  still  to  me  thy  purpose  plain, 
Thy  hidden  wish  revealed,  nor  thus  revealed  in  vain." 

While  yet  the  ambient,  aromatic  air 
Echoed  the  spellful  wonders  of  that  tone ; 
While,  as  on  threshold  of  a  lion's  lair, 
Speechless  I  stood,  as  stricken  into  stone ; 


The  Soul  of  Song  23 

Methought  the  sun  with  lessening  splendor  shone, 
As  if  some  wandering  cloud  obscured  his  gaze. 
Then  burst  a  glory  from  his  midday  throne ! 
Turning,  mine  eye  beheld,  in  rapt  amaze, 
What  memory  ne'er  would  lose  were  life  of  endless  days. 

A  stately  form,  of  giant  stature  tall ; 
Of  hoary  aspect,  venerable  and  grave ; 
Whose  curling  locks  and  beard  of  copious  fall 
Vied  the  white  foam  of  ocean's  storm-whipt  wave. 
The  firm-fixt  eye  flashed  lightnings  from  its  cave ; 
Far-darting  penetration's  gaze,  combined 
With  wisdom's  milder  light.     Of  study,  gave 
Deep  evidence  that  brow  by  learning  lined, 
Thought's  towering  throne,  where  ruled  his  realm  a  monarch 
mind. 

The  spirit's  garb — for  spirit  so  it  seemed — 
Fell  radiant  in  many  a  flowing  fold ; 
Of  style  antique,  by  modern  limners  deemed 
Befitting  monk  or  eremite  of  old. 
Head,  hands,  and  feet  were  bare ;  the  presence  bold 
With  majesty,  e'en  as  a  God  might  wear 
While  condescending  to  a  mortal  mould. 
He  spake — the  voice  no  longer  thrilled  with  fear; 
Like  some  vast  organ  swell,  it  charmed,  enchained  the  ear. 

"  Long  have  I  watched  and  waited,  but  no  sound 
Broke  the  wild  stillness  of  this  stern  abode, 
Save  thunder's  fiery  foot-print  smote  the  ground, 


24  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Or  far  beneath  some  torrent's  fury  flowed ; 
Anon  the  screaming  eagle  past  me  rode ; 
The  seeker  after  gold,  with  toilsome  stride, 
And  eager  eye  to  fix  the  shining  lode, 
Hath  paused  and  panted  on  the  steep  hillside ; 
But  none,  for  greater  things,  till  now  have  hither  hied, 

"  And  thou,  0  pensive  crier  in  the  waste, 
Invoker  of  the  Voice  now  visible ! 
Prepared  art  thou  a  mystery  to  taste, 
Whose  fruit  is  joy  or  woe  ineffable  ? 
Pluck  not  of  wisdom's  branches  bending  full, 
Drink  not  of  that  divine  philosophy, 
Save  thou  canst  bravely  suffer  wrong's  misrule, 
Nor  love  thy  fellow  less ;  save  thou  canst  be 
Henceforth  time's  fool,  though  wise  unto  eternity. 

"  Not  all  my  ministry  to  lift  the  gloom 
Yet  hovering  o'er  this  mystic  hemisphere. 
List,  son  of  man !  for  I  am  one  by  whom 
Future  and  past  as  present  shall  appear. 
In  me  behold  Messiah's  minister, 
Ancient  of  time  and  of  eternity, 
Spirit  of  song  that  moved  the  Hebrew  seer, 
Voice  of  the  stars  ere  earth's  nativity; 
Exile,  for  ages  gone,  of  mortal  minstrelsy. 

"  See  now  my  sacred  heritage  the  prey 

Of  ribald  rhymsters,  sensuous,  half  obscene ; 

Of  gloating  censors,  glad  o'er  my  decay, 


The  Soul  of  Song  25 

And  deeming  all  but  best  I  ne'er  had  been ! 
The  body's  bards  throned,  sceptering  the  scene, 
The  grovelling  worshippers  of  earth  and  time ! 
Arise !  and  with  thy  song's  celestial  sheen, 
Shame  these  false  meteors,  change  the  ruling  chime ! 
My  minstrel— I  thy  Muse — sing  thou  the  soul  sublime ! 

"  Sing,  poet,  sing !  but  not  of  new — of  old, 
Of  old  and  new — Eternal  Truth  thy  theme, 
That  holdeth  past  and  future  in  her  fold, 
That  maketh  present  but  a  passing  dream, 
While  time  and  earth  and  man  as  trifles  seem; 
That  knoweth  not  of  new,  or  old,  or  strange ; 
Whose  ever-during,  all-redemptive  scheme, 
Fixt  and  immutable  'mid  worlds  of  change, 
On,  on,  from  universe  to  universe  doth  range. 

"  Faint  not,  nor  fear,  for  all  shall  fare  thy  way — 
My  way — His  way,  the  Master  evermore. 
East  shall  seem  West,  returned  the  rising  ray, 
Shining  afar  from  this  most  ancient  shore ; 
And  man  shall  rise  e'en  where  man  fell  before. 
Fools  may  deride,  may  jeer  at  destiny ; 
They  mock  to  mourn;  oblivion  earths  them  o'er; 
While  they  that  champion  truth,  by  truth  shall  be 
Exalted,  e'en  in  time,  to  live  eternally." 

The  Ancient  paused,  and,  unrevealed  till  then, 
A  mammoth  harp  his  bosom  swung  before, 
Such  as  perchance  tuned  Israel's  psalmist  when 


26  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

A  maddening  rage  his  monarch  tossed  and  tore, 
And  music's  magic  quelled  satanic  power. 
Seated,  his  form  against  a  crag  reclined, 
He  waved  me  to  his  feet,  and  forth  did  pour, 
As  roaring  cataract  on  the  waiting  wind, 
A  sea-like  surge  of  song,  thundering  from  mind  to  mind. 

Full  tale  of  what  was  told,  I  may  not  tell, 
Though  mind  be  heir  to  all  of  mystery; 
With  milk  of  truth  the  breasts  of  wisdom  swell, 
Sufficing  past  and  present  infancy. 
But  matching  all  the  modern  eye  may  see 
With  what  was  promised  to  the  future  sight, 
JT  was  as  the  shrub  unto  the  sheltering  tree, 
The  floating  swan  unto  the  eagle's  flight, 
The  hillock  to  the  snow- crowned  summit  lost  hi  light. 

Silent,  he  towered  above  me,  harp  in  hand, — 
Was  it  a  dream  ?    Could  dream  so  vivid  be  ? — 
And  with  his  mantle's  fold  my  forehead  fanned. 
Then  leapt  to  life  the  flame  of  poesy ! 
Was  it  a  vision  of  my  destiny  ? 
Upon  the  mount,  as  erst,  I  stood  alone, 
And  naught  was  there  of  muse  or  minstrelsy; 
Save  that  afar  still  trembled  that  strange  tone, 
And  something  said  within :  "  That  harp  is  now  thine  own, 


Canto   III 
Elect  of  Elohim 


Elect  of  Elohim 

FG  I  a  song  of  aeons  gone, 

Of  life  from  mystery  sprung, 
Ere  sun,  or  moon,  or  rolling  stars 
Their  radiance  earthward  flung; 
Ere  spirit-winged  intelligence 

Forsook  those  shining  spheres, 
Exceeding  glory  there  to  gain 
Through  mortal  toil  and  tears. 

A  song  they  learn  whose  lives  eterne 

Transcend  yon  twinkling  night, 
Pale  Olea's  silver  beam  outsoar, 

Shinehah's  golden  flight; 
Passing  the  angel  sentries  by, 

Mounting  o'er  stars  and  suns, 
To  where  the  orbs  that  govern  burn, 

Royal  and  regnant  ones. 

Declare,  0  Muse  of  mightier  wing, 

Of  loftier  lore  than  mine ! 
Why  God  is  God,  and  man  may  be 

Both  human  and  divine ; 
Why  Sons  of  God,  'mid  sons  of  men, 

Unrecognized  may  dwell, 
29 


30  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

So  masked  in  dense  mortality 
That  none  their  truth  can  tell. 

From  heavenmost  height,  'mid  worlds  of  light, 

Heard  I,  or  seemed  to  hear, 
A  sweet  refrain,  as  summer  rain ; 

A  cadence  soft  and  clear; 
A  voice,  a  harp, — was  it  the  same  ? — 

Harping  those  harps  among, 
Leading  the  lyric  universe, 

On  those  high  hills  of  song. 


In  solemn  council  sat  the  Gods; 

From  Kolob's  height  supreme, 
Celestial  light  blazed  forth  afar 

O'er  countless  kokaubeam; 
And  faintest  tinge,  the  fiery  fringe 

Of  that  resplendent  day, 
'Lumined  the  dark  abysmal  realm 

Where  earth  in  chaos  lay. 

Silence  self-spelled ;  the  hour  was  one 

When  thought  doth  most  avail; 
Of  worlds  unborn  the  destiny 

Hung  trembling  in  the  scale. 
Silence  o'er  all,  and  there  arose, 

Those  kings  and  priests  among, 
A  Power  sublime,  than  whom  appeared 

None  nobler  'mid  the  throng. 


Elect  of  Elohim  31 

A  stature  mingling  strength  with  grace, 

Of  meek  though  Godlike  mien, 
The  love-revealing  countenance 

Lustrous  as  lightning  sheen ; 
Whiter  his  hair  than  ocean  spray, 

Or  frost  of  alpine  hill. 
He  spake ; — attention  grew  more  grave, 

The  stillness  e'en  more  still. 

"  Father !  "—the  voice  like  music  fell, 

Clear  as  the  murmuring  flow 
Of  mountain  streamlet  trickling  down 

From  heights  of  virgin  snow. 
"  Father,"  it  said,  "  since  one  must  die, 

Thy  children  to  redeem, 
Whilst  earth,  as  yet  unformed  and  void, 

With  pulsing  life  shall  teem; 

"  And  thou,  great  Michael,  foremost  fall, 

That  mortal  man  may  be, 
And  chosen  Saviour  yet  must  send, 

Lo,  here  am  I — send  me ! 
I  ask,  I  seek  no  recompense, 

Save  that  which  then  were  mine ; 
Mine  be  the  willing  sacrifice, 

The  endless  glory,  Thine ! 

"  Give  me  to  lead  to  this  lorn  world, 

When  wandered  from  the  fold, 
Twelve  legions  of  the  noble  ones 


32  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

That  now  thy  face  behold ; 
Tried  souls,  'mid  untried  spirits  found ; 

That  captained  these  may  be, 
And  crowned  the  dispensations  all 

With  powers  of  Deity. 

"  A  love  that  hath  redeemed  all  worlds, 
All  worlds  must  still  redeem; 

But  mercy  cannot  justice  rob — 
Or  where  were  Elohim  ? 

Freedom — man's  faith,  man's  work,  God's  grace- 
Must  span  the  great  gulf  o'er; 

Life,  death,  the  guerdon  or  the  doom, 
Rejoice  we  or  deplore." 

Silence  once  more.    Then  sudden  rose 

Aloft  a  towering  form, 
Proudly  erect  as  lowering  peak 

'Lumed  by  the  gathering  storm; 
A  presence  bright  and  beautiful, 

With  eye  of  flashing  fire, 
A  lip  whose  haughty  curl  bespoke 

A  sense  of  inward  ire. 

"  Give  me  to  go !  "  thus  boldly  cried, 

With  scarce  concealed  disdain; 
"  And  hence  shall  none,  from  heaven  to  earth, 

That  shall  not  rise  again. 
My  saving  pkn  exception  scorns; 

Man's  agency  unknown ; 


Elect  of  Elohim  33 

As  recompense,  I  claim  the  right 
To  sit  on  yonder  throne ! " 

Ceased  Lucifer.    The  breathless  hush 

Resumed  and  denser  grew. 
All  eyes  were  turned ;  the  general  gaze 

One  common  magnet  drew. 
A  moment  there  was  solemn  pause ; 

Then,  like  the  thunder-burst, 
Rolled  forth  from  lips  omnipotent — 

From  Hun  both  last  and  first : 

"  Immanuel !  thou  my  Messenger, 

Till  time's  probation  end. 
And  one  shall  go  thy  face  before, 

While  twelve  thy  steps  attend. 
And  many  more,  on  that  far  shore, 

The  pathway  shall  prepare, 
That  I,  the  First,  the  last  may  come, 

And  earth  my  glory  share. 

"  Go  forth,  thou  chosen  of  the  Gods, 

Whose  strength  shall  in  thee  dwell ! 
Go  down  betime  and  rescue  earth, 

Dethroning  death  and  hell. 
On  thee  alone  man's  fate  depends, 

The  fate  of  beings  all. 
Thou  shalt  not  fail,  though  thou  art  free — 

Free,  but  too  great,  to  fall. 


34  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

"  By  three  in  heaven,  by  three  on  earth, 

By  blood  that  sanctifies, 
By  water  of  obedience, 

Spirit  that  justifies ; 
By  every  word  of  mine  and  thine, 

Through  toil  and  travail  sore, 
Man,  God-redeemed,  with  God  shall  be, 

As  God  forevermore." 

'T  was  done.    From  congregation  vast 

Tumultuous  murmurs  rose ; 
Waves  of  conflicting  sound,  as  when 

Two  meeting  seas  oppose. 
*T  was  finished.     But  the  heavens  wept ; 

And  still  their  annals  tell 
How  one  was  choice  of  Elohim, 

O'er  one  who  fighting  fell. 


A  stranger  star  that  came  from  far, 

To  fling  its  silver  ray, 
Where,  cradled  in  a  lowly  cave, 

A  lowlier  infant  lay ; 
And  led  by  soft  sidereal  light, 

The  Orient  sages  bring 
Rare  gifts  of  gold  and  frankincense, 

To  greet  the  homeless  King. 

Oh  wondrous  grace !    Will  Gods  go  down 
Thus  low  that  men  may  rise  ? 


Elect  of  Elohim  35 

Imprisoned  here  the  mighty  one 

Who  reigned  in  yonder  skies  ? 
Hark  to  that  chime! — a  tongue  sublime, 

That  tells  the  hour  of  noon. 
A  dying  world  is  welcoming 

Life — light  of  sun  and  moon. 

"  Peace!  peace!  "—thy  voice,  eternity! 

"  Peace ! "  echoes  time's  false  tone. 
"  Peace !  peace ! "  Is  discord  then  no  more  ? 

Are  earth  and  heaven  as  one  ? 
Peace,  peace,  where  sparkling  hosts  proclaim 

A  monarch  manger-born ; 
There  ruler  of  unnumbered  realms, 

Here  throneless  and  forlorn. 

He  wandered  through  the  faithless  world, 

A  prince  in  shepherd  guise; 
He  called  his  scattered  flock,  but  few 

The  voice  did  recognize ; 
For  minds  upborne  by  hollow  pride, 

Or  dimmed  by  sordid  lust, 
Ne'er  look  for  kings  in  beggar's  garb, 

For  diamonds  in  the  dust. 

Wept  He  above  a  city  doomed, 

Her  temple,  walls,  and  towers, 
O'er  palaces  where  recreant  priests 

Usurped  unhallowed  powers. 
"  I  am  the  way,  the  life,  the  light! " 


36  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Alas !  't  was  heeded  not ; 
Ignored — nay,  mocked  God's  messenger, 
And  spurned  the  truth  He  taught. 

0  bane  of  damning  unbelief ! 

Till  now  when  e'er  so  rife  ? 
Thou  stumbling  stone,  thou  barrier  'thwart 

The  gates  of  endless  life ! 
0  love  of  self,  and  Mammon's  lust ! 

Twin  portals  to  despair, 
Where  bigotry,  the  blinded  bat, 

Flaps  through  the  midnight  air. 

Through  these,  gloom- wrapt  Gethsemane ! 

Thy  glens  of  guilty  shade 
Grieved  o'er  the  sinless  Son  of  God, 

By  gold-bought  kiss  betrayed ; 
Beheld  Him  unresisting  dragged, 

Forsaken,  friendless,  lone, 
To  halls  where  dark-browed  hatred  sat 

On  judgment's  lofty  throne. 

As  sheep  before  His  shearers,  dumb, 

Those  patient  lips  were  mute ; 
The  clamorous  charge  of  taunting  tongues 

He  deigned  not  to  dispute. 
They  smote  with  cruel  palm  a  face 

Which  felt  yet  bore  the  sting; 
Then  crowned  with  thorns  His  quivering  brow, 

And  mocking,  hailed  him  "  King!  " 


Elect  of  Elohim  37 

Transfixt  He  hung, — 0  crime  of  crimes!— 

The  God  whom  worlds  adore. 
"  Father,  forgive  them! "    Drained  the  dregs; 

Immanuel  was  no  more ! 
No  more  where  thunders  shook  the  earth, 

Where  lightnings,  'thwart  the  gloom, 
Saw  that  unconquered  spirit  spurn 

The  shackles  of  the  tomb. 

Far-flashing  on  its  wings  of  light, 

A  falchion  from  its  sheath, 
It  cleft  the  realms  of  darkness  and 

Dissolved  the  bands  of  death ; 
Hell's  dungeons  burst,  wide  open  swung 

The  everlasting  bars, 
Whereby  the  ransomed  soul  shall  win 

Those  heights  beyond  the  stars. 


Canto  IV 
Night  and  the  Wilderness 


Night  and  the  Wilderness 

JTS  the  great  Sun,  but  sets  to  rise  again, 
More  glorious  from  a  night  of  martyrdom ; 
Sinks,  like  the  waning  Moon,  in  seas  of  blood, 

To  soar  anon  above  a  mightier  morrow; 

Sets  here  to  rise  on  realms  and  times  untold, 

All  worlds  illuming,  erewhile,  evermore. 

Follow  the  lingering  Stars,  save  haply  one 
Of  primal  twelve, — a  Queen's  rare  diadem, — 
Through  mystic  night  of  ages  sparkling  lone, 
And  speaking  in  high  splendor  things  to  come. 

While  the  lorn  Bride,  the  Woman  wonderful, 

Clothed,  crowned,  and  shod,  as  with  the  triple  sheen 

Of  future  glories  in  her  gracious  gift; 

Ere  winging  to  the  restful  Wilderness, 

Returning  to  the  world  invisible, 

Abides  to  hope,  believe,  endure,  all  things ; 

All  depths  and  heights  with  Him  inheriting. 

Henceforth  with  her  another  Comforter, 
Christ-sent,  divine,  a  Spirit  minister, 
Of  heavenly  Three  the  unembodied  One, 
Proceeding  from  the  presence  of  the  Sire 
To  manifest  the  meaning  of  the  Son. 

41 


42  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Giver  of  gifts  from  Him,  the  glory- crowned, 
Fountain  of  memory  and  of  prophecy; 
Herald  of  peace,  proclaiming  Holiness, 
Voice  of  Eternity  to  virgin  Time. 
Lamp  of  the  soul,  light  of  the  universe ; 
Creative  Hand — omnific  Arm  of  God; 
Holder,  with  Christ,  of  resurrection's  key, 
The  quickener  of  the  living  and  the  dead. 
Life,  Light,  and  Love — magnetic  mystery, 
Whereby  the  Father  draweth  to  the  Son, 
Nor  Twelve  alone,  nor  Seventy  seventyfold, 
But  ere  the  end,  tribes,  tongues,  and  kindreds  all. 

Ever  with  them,  earth-wandering  Witnesses, 
The  heralds  of  a  kingdom  yet  to  come, 
Kingdom  upon  and  yet  not  of  the  earth, 
Whose  portal  none  can  enter,  none  can  see, 
Save  born  anew,  born  of  a  dual  birth, 
By  mystic  fatherhood  and  motherhood 
Begotten  sons  and  daughters  unto  God. 
Wide  sowers  of  the  word,  sent  forth  to  strew 
On  stony  ground,  on  goodly  soil,  the  seed, 
Of  present  and  of  future  faith  the  germs, 
Sown  to  the  full  set  time  of  harvesting. 
Far  hunters,  fishers,  gatherers,  of  men ; 
The  shepherds  set  to  feed  a  wolf-torn  flock, 
Holding  the  sacred  keys  that  loose  and  bind. 
Alway  with  them,  God-missioned  ministers, 
Unctioned  with  fire,  anointed  from  on  high, 


Night  and  the  Wilderness  43 

Circling  as  stars  their  ever  central  Sun, — 
Revolving  round  a  loftier  Splendor  still — 
And  Him  withdrawn,  reflecting  wave  on  wave 
Of  Gospel  light,  gladdening  a  gloom-hung  world. 

A  world  overshadowed  by  an  Eagle's  wings, 
From  Scythian  snows  to  hot  Hamitic  sands, 
From  Ganges  on  to  Tiber  and  the  Thames ; 
Where  goeth  forth,  unwittingly  the  tool 
Of  Truth  eterne,  her  pathway  to  prepare, 
The  law  and  legion  of  imperial  Rome, 
Mighty  to  crush  and  to  consolidate, 
Haply  to  humble,  soften,  making  way 
For  peace  to  flow  wider  than  war  can  wound ; 
Her  iron  hand  the  Nazarene's  defense, 
Holding  in  quell  the  hierarchal  hate ; 
Servant  unknowingly  of  Him  she  slew 
In  pandering  to  Judah's  jealousy. 

Subservient,  too,  the  Macedonian  power, 
The  pard-like  phalanx,  swift,  invincible, 
Spreading  the  glories  of  a  sapient  tongue, 
The  whig  whereon  a  higher  wisdom  flew, 
Till  teem,  of  Aryan  clans,  the  Asian  kin, 
Seedlings  of  Japheth,  sire  of  the  Gentile  world. 
Subservient  all  that  e'er  hath  swayed  or  served 
Since  truth  set  sail  upon  the  surge  of  time. 

Vain,  Dragon,  vain  thy  deluge  of  deceit, 
Thy  flood  of  lies,  thou  false  one  from  of  old ! 


44  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Vain,  wrath  of  devils  and  of  men  combined ! 

Triumphs  the  Man-Child,  priest-power,  summoned  home ; 

Triumphs  the  Woman  in  the  Wilderness, 

'Scaping  the  jaws,  the  hungering  gates  of  hell, 

That  'gainst  the  mortal  part  alone  prevail ; 

Body,  not  spirit,  crushed  and  all  overcome. 

Withdrawn  to  realms  of  rest,  she  reigneth  still, 

And  here  shall  rise  unto  the  regnant  place, 

Ruling  by  rod  of  Christ  a  ransomed  world, 

Leagued  now  with  death  and  darkness,  loathing  light 

Of  that  great  Witness,  which  again  must  go, 

When  eagle  pinions  shadow  earth  once  more, 

Borne  on  the  shoulders  of  the  Philistine 

To  every  nation  ere  the  fated  end. 

Till  when  proud  Japheth  sways,  while  Jacob  mourns, 
Fainting  'neath  yokes  and  fardels,  prostrate,  prone, 
With  Judah  undermost,  the  last  of  all 
The  trampled  tribes  to  taste  of  liberty; 
Though  foreordained  a  wondrous  power  to  wield, 
Antean-like,  from  touching  of  the  ground ; 
Bent,  curst,  but  clutching,  and  by  might  of  gold 
Conquering  his  dust-adoring  conqueror. 

Predestined  Israel,  martyred,  immolate, 
That  nations,  races,  worlds,  might  look  and  live; 
Descending,  like  his  Lord,  all  else  below; 
And  yet  with  Him  to  rise  all  else  above ; 
Extremes  of  woe  and  weal  encompassing ; 
Wisdom  by  sweet  and  bitter  made  more  wise. 


Night  and  the  Wilderness  45 

Alway  with  them,  crown  of  that  queenliest  brow, 
The  Bride,  the  Wife,  the  Woman  wonderful, 
Her  diadem  within,  without,  the  world, 
Where  false  Idumea  sinks  degenerate, 
The  washed  one  to  his  wallowing  in  the  mire ; 
A  drowsy  dreamer  of  the  self-same  dreams 
Dispelled  erewhile  by  lightnings  of  her  eye, 
Her  altar's  blazing  and  her  armor  bright, 
By  heaven-lit  torch  that  made  the  pathway  plain 
O'er  rugged  mount,  through  mazy  catacomb, 
Till  dimmed  with  incense  from  Diana's  shrine, 
And  dashed  in  pieces  'gainst  a  pagan  throne, 
Where  prematurely  changed  was  cross  for  crown, 
And  Christ's  flock  fleeced  by  shearing  compromise. 

Still  with  that  flock,  still  with  all  faith  sincere; 

Still  with  the  just,  though  Christian-Pagan  turns 

His  prurient  ear  to  fables,  from  the  truth; 

And  virtueless  as  Judah's  pharisee, 

And  graceless  as  Iscariot,  self-hung, 

Parts  in  the  midst,  imperial  East  from  West, 

Twain  as  the  imaged  legs  of  Babel's  dream, 

Bound  down  with  brazen-iron  manacles; 

A  split  colossus,  fallen  'twixt  Greece  and  Rome. 

With  virtue  to  the  end,  but  not  with  thee, 
Thou  wanton,  Harlot-Mother,  would-be  wife ! 
Roaming  tradition's  tangled  wilderness, 
Lost  hi  a  night  that  seemeth  to  thee  day, 


46  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

In  crooked  paths  that  fain  would  straight  appear; 

Wanning  thy  withered  fingers  o'er  the  coals 

Alive  'mid  ashes  of  the  ancient  fires, 

Where  She  was  wont  to  kindle  faith,  hope,  love, 

And  flash  the  spirit  flambeau  o'er  the  world ; 

There  holding  to  thy  heart  an  empty  urn, 

There  cherishing  a  name,  a  memory, 

Mumbling  vain  prayers,  "  Lord,  Lord,"  protesting  still, 

And  still  forgetful  of  thy  Lord's  commands. 

Nay,  not  with  thee,  thou  crimson  courtesan, 

Robed  in  the  horrid  hue  of  countless  crimes ! 

Fierce  dragon's  maw,  thrice  cruel  murderess, 

Thy  hands  a-reek  with  blood  of  innocence, 

With  blood  of  prophets,  blood  of  priests  and  kings, 

Whose  martyred  souls  sue  vengeance,  judgment-sworn ; 

Vengeance  on  thee,  thou  slaughterer  of  saints ! 

Vengeance  on  him,  thy  sceptered  paramour, 

Whose  princes  ten  (while  Mammon's  host  shall  wail) 

Loathing  where  once  they  loved  all  lustfully, 

And  lived,  as  thou  hast  lived,  deliciously, 

When  thou  art  ripened  unto  rottenness, 

Shall  give  thy  crumbling  body  to  be  burned. 

Nay,  Anti-Christ,  thou  mystic  power  of  sin ! 
Never  with  thee,  usurping  god  of  gain ! 
Plotting  to  sway  Jehovah's  sovereignty, 
As  Lucifer  the  might  of  Elohim. 
Perdition,  warring  'gainst  the  saints  of  God, 


Night  and  the  Wilderness  47 

And  overcoming  till  the  judgment  sits, 
When  righteous  wrath  iniquity  shall  slay; 
When  swift-winged  morn  shall  overtake  the  night, 
And  glory  rift  the  gloom  of  centuries. 


Are  ye  alone,  ye  sacred  messengers, — 
Prophet  and  priest  and  godly  minister,— 
Whom  Mercy  sends  man's  erring  soul  to  win 
From  folly's  paths  of  wickedness  and  strife, 
To  wisdom's  way  of  purity  and  peace ! 
Are  ye  alone  forerunners  of  the  Light  ? 

Anon  as  kings  and  conquerors  they  come ; 
Anon  as  champions  of  democracy; 
Founders  of  empire  and  iconoclasts; 
Sword,  pen,  and  tongue  of  progress  and  reform; 
Pilgrims  to  continents  and  climes  unknown, 
Uncurtained  for  the  play  of  Liberty, 
Now  nearing  the  finale  of  her  dreams — 
Dreams  that  shall  waken  to  reality; 
Sages  in  art,  in  science  past  profound ; 
Invention's  wizards,  wielding  mystic  wand ; 
The  stars  and  suns  of  literature,  whose  rays 
Laurel  with  light  the  living  hills  of  fame ; 
Masters  of  melody,  whose  magic  wakes 
From  earthly  harps  the  echoes  of  eternity; 
Waste- saviours ;  probers  of  the  polar  way; 
Pilots  of  air,  rulers  of  element; 
The  pioneers  of  thought's  wide  wilderness. 


48  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Piercing,  as  peaks,  the  sombre  shades  of  night, 
To  greet  the  early  glintings  of  the  morn. 

These  also  are  the  mighty,  kin  to  those, 
Divinest  of  Jehovah's  messengers. 
All  oracles  of  light,  all  arms  of  power, 
Preparers  of  the  way  His  face  before. 

Declare  His  truth,  His  generations  tell, 
Whose  goings  forth,  whose  sendings,  from  of  old ; 
O'er  whom  a  wise  world  marvelled,  some  to  say 
Elias,  slain  of  Herod,  lives  again, 
While  some  said  Jeremias. 

Whom  say  ye, 

His  chosen  followers,  children  of  the  light, 
Illumined,  gifted  of  the  Holy  One! 
Whom  say  ye  was  your  Master,  Teacher,  Friend  ? 

"  Word  that  was  God,  is  God,  and  shall  be  aye ; 

Sire  by  the  spirit,  and  by  flesh  the  Son ; 

In  glory  with  the  Father  ere  the  world, 

And  now  with  that  same  glory  glorified ; 

Image  and  likeness  of  creation's  Sire, 

Mirror  and  model  of  humanity, 

Of  man  the  parent  and  the  prototype ; 

The  Sole-begotten,  here  He  doeth  o'er 

All  He  hath  seen  erstwhile  the  Father  do; 

Lover  of  right,  loathing  iniquity, 


Night  and  the  Wilderness  49 

Anointed  Lord  of  Lords,  and  Sire  'mid  Sons. 
Elias  ?    Nay,  Messias,  Saviour,  King; 
The  greater  one  Elias  said  should  come." 

Sufficeth  it.    What  now,  ye  learned  ones, 
School-taught,  self-sent,  man-missioned  ministers, 
Creators  of  a  vain  divinity, — 
Likeness  of  naught,  mirror  of  nothingness, 
A  god,  than  graven  image,  less  divine ! — 
Daring  the  thunders  of  the  Decalogue, 
Disputing  Moses,  Christ,  and  prophets  all, 
Gird  up  your  loins  and  answer — what  is  God  ? 

"  Impersonal,  incomprehensible ; 

Centre,  as  circle,  everywhere,  nowhere ; 

All  things  made  He  from  nothing  " — Hold,  enough! 

Night  and  gross  darkness — darken  it  no  more. 

Yet  give  to  man  his  meed — him  that  hath  kept, 
Albeit  in  empty  urn,  the  Name  of  Names, 
And  toiled  and  suffered  sore  transmitting  it 
From  sire  to  son  through  shaded  centuries; 
As  him  that  erst  Messiah  here  proclaimed, 
The  trodden  yet  beneath  oppression's  heel, 
Safe  hoarding  still  the  precious  prophecy. 
The  Jew,  the  Christian,  each  hath  played  his  part, 
Each  as  a  star  hath  heralded  a  morn. 

And  what  of  him,  the  fierce  iconoclast, 
Agnostic,  doubting  or  denying  all, 


50  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Ofttimes  in  hate  and  horrid  ribaldry  ? 
Maintains  he  not  life's  equilibrium  ? 
A  jet  to  cool  fanaticism's  flame, 
A  brake  upon  the  wheel  of  bigotry  ? 
Bold  unbelief,  reform's  rough  pioneer, 
Unwittingly  a  warrior  for  the  Cross, 
A  weapon  for  the  right  he  ridicules. 

God's  perfect  plan  an  ocean  is,  where  range, 
As  minnows,  monsters,  of  the  wide  wave  realm, 
Men's  causes,  creeds,  and  systems  manifold ; 
Free  as  the  will  of  Him  who  freedom  willed, 
While  foiling  here  nor  fettering  aim  divine. 
E'en  Lucifer,  arch-foe  to  liberty, 
Is  free — though  not  to  trench  on  freedom's  ground. 
All  human  schemes,  all  hell's  conspiracies, 
All  chance,  all  accident,  all  agency, 
All  loves,  hates,  hopes,  despairs,  and  blasphemies, 
All  rights,  all  wrongs,  bend  to  one  blest  decree ; 
And  truth — gold,  found  with  dross,  in  every  age 
Hath  wrought  more  good  than  ill  to  humankind. 

But  morn  must  rise,  and  night  dismiss  her  stars; 
And  ocean  summon  home  his  seas  and  streams; 
And  Truth,  the  perfect,  truth  the  part  fulfill,— 
As  knowledge,  faith ;  as  history,  prophecy. 

Hark  to  a  cry  that  cleaves  the  wilderness, 
Pealing  the  clarion  prelude  to  the  dawn ! 


Canto  V 
The  Messenger  of  Morn 


m 

jb  ono  Q&  doue  aoww  tu  vitt  \ 


A  NOBLE  OF  THE  SKIES 

'*  /  saw  In  vision  such  an  one  descend." 


The  Messenger  of  Morn 

AKE ,  slumbering  world !  Behold  the  Bridegroom  comes ! 
The  shadows  lift,  and  o'er  night's  dusky  beach 
Ripple  the  white  waves  of  morn.    Awake !  Arise ! 


Ocean  of  dispensations — river,  rill, 

Roll  to  thy  source !    End,  to  thy  Origin ! 

And  Israel,  to  the  Rock  whence  ye  were  hewn! 

For  He  that  scattered,  gathereth  his  flock, 

His  ancient  flock,  and  plants  their  pilgrim  feet 

On  Joseph's  mountain  top  and  Judah's  plains; 

Recalls  the  children  of  the  covenant 

From  long  dispersion  o'er  the  Gentile  world, 

Mingling  their  spirits  with  the  mystic  sea 

That  sent  them  forth  as  freshening  showers  to  save 

The  parched  and  withered  wastes  of  unbelief. 

Japheth!  thy  planet  pales,  it  sinks,  it  sets; 

Henceforth  't  is  Jacob's  star  must  rise  and  reign. 

Daughter  of  Zion !  be  thou  comforted, 
And  wash  from  thy  wan  cheek  all  trace  of  tears. 
Gone  are  the  days  of  dole  and  widowhood, 
The  days  of  barrenness  that  brought  thee  scorn; 
Thy  wilderness  now  weds,  thy  desert  blooms. 

53 


54  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Rejoice,  Jerusalem !  thou  art  redeemed ; 
Again  thy  temple  and  thy  towers  arise ; 
Heard  is  the  harp  of  David  in  thy  halls; 
Greater  than  Solomon's  thy  wisdom  shines. 

From  spirit  heights  where  thou  art  beautiful, 
Lamp  of  the  nations,  send  thy  light  afar! 
Take  on  thy  new  name,  One  and  Pure-in-Heart ; 
For  thou  shalt  see  thy  God,  His  glory  thine. 

Gone  are  the  gold,  the  silver  and  the  bronze, 
The  conquering  iron  and  the  crumbling  clay; 
World-wide,  heaven-high,  the  Stone  of  Israel  stands, 
The  Chaldean  image  as  the  Chaldean  dream. 

Six  days  thou,  Earth,  hast  labored,  and  the  seventh, 
Thy  sabbath,  comes  apace !    Night's  sceptre  wanes, 
And  in  the  East  the  silvery  Messenger 
Gives  silent  token  of  the  golden  Dawn. 

Now,  heaven's  loud  trumpets,  all  earth's  secrets  tell ! 
Death  and  hell's  dungeons,  liberate  your  dead ! 
For  'mid  the  shouts  of  saints,  the  risen,  the  changed, 
Day  dawns,  hour  strikes,  skies  burst — the  King  descends ! 

God's  burden ;  hear  it  nations !  hear  it  isles ! 
Ere  falls  an  hour,  night's  darkest  hour  of  doom. 
The  trial  ends,  the  judgment  now  begins. 
Out,  out  of  her,  my  people,  saith  your  God ! 


The  Messenger  of  Morn  55 

Who  towers  aloft,  as  mountain  girt  with  hills, 
Amid  the  strength  of  Ephraim's  stalwart  sons, 
To  trumpet  thus  the  closing  act  of  time  ? 
Speak,  oracle !  what  sayest  thou  of  thyself  ? 
Who  art  thou,  man  of  might  and  majesty  ? 

"  Would  God  I  might  but  tell  thee  who  I  am! 
Would  God  I  might  but  tell  thee  what  I  know!  " 

Then  was  he  of  the  mighty  ? — one  with  those 
Descended  from  the  Empire  of  the  Sun, 
Adown  the  glowing  stairway  of  the  stars; 
Regnant  and  ruling  ere  they  left  the  realms 
Of  life  supernal,  left  their  sovereign  thrones, 
To  wander  oft  as  outcasts  of  mankind, 
Unknown,  unhonored,  e'en  like  One  who  came 
Unto  His  own,  by  them  spat  on  and  spurned ; 
The  guileless  followers  of  the  guiltless  Lamb, 
Crowned  with  the  halo  of  the  Name  of  Names; 
Peers  of  the  Empire  of  Omnipotence, 
The  sceptred  satraps  of  the  King  of  Kings; 
The  royal  retinue  of  Him  who  shines 
First-born  of  many  brethren ;  Gibborim, 
Great  ones  worthy  the  Word  that  was  to  come ; . 
Foreknown,  elect,  predestined,  preordained, 
The  Sons  of  God,  the  saviours  of  mankind. 

I  saw  in  vision  such  an  one  descend, 
And  garb  him  hi  a  guise  of  common  clay; 
His  glory  veiling  from  the  gaze  of  all, 


56  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Who  wist  not  that  a  great  one  walked  with  men; 

Nor  knew  it  then  the  soul  incarnate  there, 

Betwixt  the  temporal  and  spirit  spheres 

So  dense  f orgetfulness  doth  intervene ; 

Yet  learned  his  truth  betime  by  angel  tongues, 

By  voice  of  God,  by  heavenly  whisperings. 

But  who  remains  the  mystery  to  solve  ? 
The  letter  to  unlock  with  spirit  key  ? 
The  veil  to  lift  by  death  and  silence  thrown 
O'er  all  the  splendors  of  that  life  sublime  ? 

A  living  prophet  unto  dying  time 

Heralding  the  dispensation  of  the  end ; 

When  Truth  once  more  the  vineyard  comes  to  prune, 

When  potent  weak  confound  the  puny  strong, 

Threshing  the  nations  by  the  Spirit's  power; 

That  here  the  Father's  work  may  crown  the  Son's, 

And  Earth  be  joined  a  holy  bride  to  Heaven, 

A  queen  'mid  queens,  crowned,  throned,  and  glorified. 

Wherefore  a  noble  of  the  skies  came  down 

In  strength  divine,  a  stirring  role  to  play 

In  time's  tense  tragedy,  whose  acts  are  seven. 

Avails  it  aught,  his  name  or  nation  here  ? 
His  state  and  standing  there,  the  vital  tale. 

His  part  to  fell  the  false,  replant  the  true, 
To  sow  in  mortal  soil  eternal  seed ; 
To  clear  away  the  debris  of  the  past, 


The  Messenger  of  Morn  57 

The  ashes  of  its  dead  and  dying  creeds, 
And  kindle  newly  on  earth's  ancient  shrine 
The  light  that  points  to  life  unerringly; 
Crowning  what  has  been  with  what  now  must  be, 
A  mighty  still  bespeaking  mightier. 


Earth  rose  from  wintry  sleep,  baptized  and  cleansed ; 
And  on  her  tranquil  brow,  that  seemed  to  feel 
The  holy  and  confirming  hand  of  Heaven, 
The  warm  light  in  a  wealth  of  glory  streamed. 
Nature's  green  floor  now  carpeted  anew 
By  angel  hands,  whose  care  had  set  the  scene 
For  some  glad  change,  some  joyful  happening, 
Told  in  the  countless  caroling  of  birds, 
Brightening  the  foliage,  flashing  'mid  the  flowers, 
Mirroring  mingled  hues  of  earth  and  sky. 

Glad  happening  indeed ;  for  ne'er  before, 
Since  burst  the  heavens  above  Judea's  hills, 
And  angel  choristers  pealed  joy's  refrain 
Above  the  mangered  Babe  of  Bethlehem, 
Had  earth  such  scene  beheld,  as  now  within 
The  bosom  of  a  sylvan  solitude, 
Hard  by  the  borders  of  a  humble  home, 
Upon  that  fair  and  fateful  morn  was  played. 

The  players  three,  but  only  one  of  earth ; 
A  blue-eyed,  guileless,  untaught  fanner  boy, 
Standing  but  fourteen  steps  upon  life's  stair, 


58  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

And  yet  in  mind  a  man,  of  thought  profound. 

Not  solemn,  save  betimes  when  'neath  the  glance 

Of  some  great  idea's  all-subduing  spell; 

Not  melancholy — mirthful,  loving  life, 

And  brimming  o'er  with  health  and  wholesome  glee. 

Bowing  to  God,  yet  bending  to  no  creed, 

Adoring  not  a  loveless  deity, 

That  saved  or  damned  regardless  of  desert, 

Ne'er  reckoning  the  good  or  evil  done ; 

Wafting  the  blood-stained  criminal  to  bliss 

If  he  but  gasped,  half-hung,  the  holy  Name ; 

Thrusting  the  spotless  infant  into  hell, 

If  unbaptized  for  uncommitted  sin; 

Foredestining  to  endless  woe  or  weal. 

Loving  and  worshipping  the  God  of  love, 

The  gracious  God  of  reason  and  of  right, 

Long-suffering  and  just  and  merciful, 

Meting  to  all  according  to  their  work, 

Yet  giving  more,  far  more  than  merit's  claim. 

Bowing  to  Him,  but  not  to  man-made  gods, 

And  shunning  shameful  strife  where  peace  should  dwell, 

He  holds  aloof  from  those  degenerate  sects, 

Bewildering  Babel  of  conflicting  creeds, 

And  pondering  the  apostolic  line : 

"  Let  any  lacking  wisdom,  wisdom  ask 

Of  Him  that  giveth  and  upbraideth  not," 

In  childlike  faith,  Godlike  humility, 

Resolves  to  put  the  promise  to  the  test. 


The  Messenger  of  Morn  59 

What  pen  can  paint  the  marvel  now  befell  ? 
What  tongue  the  wondrous  miracle  portray  ? 
Than  theirs,  the  Vision's  own,  what  voice  proclaim 
Whose  dual  glory  dimmed  the  noonday  beam, 
Communing  with  him  there,  as  friend  with  friend, 
And  giving  to  that  prayer  reply  of  peace  ? 

Tell  how,  as  Moses  on  the  unknown  mount, 
From  whom  in  rage  fled  baffled  Lucifer, 
Who  fain  had  guised  him  as  the  Son  of  God 
And  won  the  worship  of  that  prophet  pure ; 
Tell  how  with  gloom  he  strove  ere  glory  dawned, 
Strove  mightily  and  conquered,  e'en  as  truth, 
Warring  with  error,  shall  at  last  o'ercome. 
Tell  how,  in  heart  of  that  sweet  solitude, 
Within  the  silent  grove,  sequestered  shade, 
While  spirit  hosts  unseen  spectators  stood, 
Watching  the  simple  scene's  sublimity, 
Eternity  high  converse  held  with  time ; 
Eternity,  time's  mother,  waiting  gazed, 
While  time,  the  mother  of  the  centuries, 
Mother  of  ages,  dispensations,  hours, 
Gave  birth  unto  her  last  and  mightiest  child. 

Heaven's  awful  Sire,  through  Him,  both  Sire  and  Son, 
Haloed  with  fire  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
There  blazons  the  beginning  of  the  end. 


Three  years  take  wing ;  the  boy  a  youth  now  grown ; 
And  on  his  brow,  woe-carved,  a  world  of  care. 


6o  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

He  bows,  an  Atlas,  'neath  the  mighty  load, 
Yet  bears  it  meekly,  uncomplainingly. 

Nor  marvel  at  his  lot;  hath  he  not  told, — 
A  crime  man  ne'er  forgave  in  fellow  man, — 
Told  the  wise  world  that  God  hath  spoke  again  ? 

"  No  church  the  Christ's.     None,  therefore,  can  I  join. 
All  sects  and  creeds  have  wandered  from  the  way. 
Priestcraft  in  lieu  of  priesthood  sits  enthroned. 
Dead  forms  deny  the  power  of  godliness. 
Men  worship  with  their  lips,  their  hearts  afar. 
None  serve  acceptably  in  sight  of  heaven. 
Wherefore  a  work  of  wonder  shall  be  wrought, 
And  perish  all  the  wisdom  of  the  wise." 

"  'T  was  from  below,"  thus  bigotry,  in  rage. 
"  Nay,  from  above,"  the  simple  soul's  reply. 
"  No  vision  is  there  now,  the  time  is  past." 
"  But  I  have  seen,"  affirms  the  youthful  seer. 
"  God  is  a  spirit,  everywhere,  nowhere." 
"  God  is  a  Man;  I  saw  Him,  talked  with  Him." 
"  Man  "  ?— "  Aye,  of  holiness,— exalted  Man." 

A  strife  of  words,  of  warring  tongues  now  waged, 
And  weapons  vied  with  words  the  truth  to  slay; 
Nor  truth  alone,  but  her  brave  oracle, 
A  boy  by  men,  by  neighborhoods,  oppressed. 
The  wrangling  sects  forgave,  well-nigh  forgot, 
Their  former  feuds  and  fears  and  jealousies, 


The  Messenger  of  Morn  61 

And  joining  hands,  as  Pilate  Herod  joined, 
In  friendly  reconcilement's  cordial  clasp, 
They  doomed  to  death  and  hell  "  this  heresy." 
None  sought  with  loving  ruth  a  soul's  reclaim, 
But  all  were  bent  his  name  and  fame  to  blast ; 
And  pious  would-be  murder  led  the  van 
Of  common  hatred  and  hostility. 

But  Truth,  thou  mother  of  the  living  thought, 

The  deathless  word,  the  everduring  deed ! 

What  puny  hand  thy  mighty  arm  can  stay  ? 

When  crushed,  or  backward  held  thine  hour  beyond  ? 

Can  bigot  frown  or  tyrant  fetter  quell 

Thy  high  revolt  ?    From  'neath  his  haughty  heel 

Thou  'It  lift  the  loyal;  humbling  to  the  dust, 

In  death  or  penitence,  the  darkened  mind 

That  measures  arms  with  Light  omnipotent. 


Day  from  his  quiver  drew  a  shining  shaft, 
And  thwart  the  night  the  flaming  arrow  flew : 

"  A  messenger  from  God  to  thee  I  come ; 
Thy  sins  are  pardoned  through  thy  penitence ; 
A  marvellous  and  a  mighty  work  is  thine ; 
Henceforward  heard  in  every  creed  and  clime 
The  good  and  evil  tongues  that  trump  thy  fame, 
Behold!"— 


62  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

The  Choice  Seer  from  his  pillow  views ; 
And  while  in  wonder  wrapt,  as  visions  rise, 
Unveiling  glories  of  eternity, 
In  words  akin  to  these  the  tale  tells  on : 

"  Look,  seeker  after  light!  for  thou  shalt  find; 
Nor  by  the  lamp,  though  luring,  tempted  be ; 
Nor  turned  from  truer  wealth  that  shines  within — 
God's  word,  in  weakness  clothed,  the  world  to  prove ; 
Graven  on  gold  in  characters  unknown, — 
Unknown  to  thee,  but  known  to  me  and  mine, — 
The  language  of  my  people,  ages  gone. 

"  Beside  the  record,  hid  in  yonder  hill, 

At  God's  behest  and  at  my  sire's  command, 

The  seer  stones,  Urim,  Thummim,  known  of  old, 

Whereby  thou  shalt  dispel  the  mystery 

That  hangs  above  this  heaven-favored  land ; 

And  Joseph,  speaking  from  the  dust,  shall  join 

With  Judah,  page  to  page,  truth's  tale  to  tell. 

"  The  winter  of  the  Gentile  fulness  o'er, 
And  Israel's  fig  tree  putteth  forth  its  leaves; 
Fruit  planted  by  the  prophets  of  the  past, 
Hath  ripened  and  is  ready  for  the  fall. 

"  Elias  comes,  Messiah's  messenger, 
Israel  to  summon  and  the  world  to  save ; 
First  by  persuasion's  pleading ;  that  contemned, 
By  voice  of  wrath  and  stroke  of  violence. 


The  Messenger  of  Morn  63 

He  speaks — the  mountains  kneel,  the  valleys  rise, 

Rolls  to  the  north  the  land-dividing  wave ; 

Pride  changing  places  with  humility, 

While  unity  and  love  creation  sway. 

Elias  comes !  't  is  restitution's  reign, 

And  order  hurls  disorder  from  the  throne. 

Equality — nay,  justice,  holds  the  helm; 

Each  hath  his  own;  the  lost  lamb  finds  the  fold. 

"  War  sheathes  his  fangs;  aloft  on  fearless  wing 

Peace  broods  above  a  restful  universe ; 

A  common  faith  and  interest  unite, 

But  conscience  still  her  fullest  freedom  sees. 

The  Church  prevails,  but  't  is  the  Kingdom  reigns, 

The  crown  and  shield  of  causes  numberless ; 

The  law  from  Zion,  and  the  royal  word, 

The  Monarch's  edict,  from  Jerusalem; 

A  centralized  diffusion's  balanced  sway; 

God's  might,  man's  right,  in  equilibrium. 

"  Babel  no  more,  stilled  all  her  strifeful  tongues; 
The  primal  language  over  earth  prevails ; 
And  all  is  found  again  as  at  the  first, 
While  ransomed  hosts,  rejoicing,  sing  this  song: 

"  The  Lord  His  ancient  people  hath  redeemed; 
The  Lord  hath  gathered  all  things  into  one ; 
Satan  is  bound  and  time  shall  be  no  more ; 
The  Lord  hath  brought  up  Zion  from  beneath; 


64  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

The  Lord  hath  brought  down  Zion  from  above ; 
And  heaven  on  earth  hath  smiled,  and  she  is  clothed 
In  garments  as  the  glory  of  her  God, 
Who  standeth  in  the  midst  forevermore. 

"  But  ere  it  break,  that  bright  Millennial  day, 

There  falls  a  nightlier  hour  than  night  hath  known, 

When  sun  shall  frown,  moon  blush,  while  dizzy  stars, 

Drunken  with  fumes  of  man's  iniquity, 

Shall  hurl  them  headlong  from  their  sparkling  thrones, 

And  grovel  darkly  in  the  deep  abyss. 

And  heaven  shall  tremble  as  if  palsy-struck, 

Earth  as  an  aspen  shaken  in  the  wind, 

While  o'er  her  quivering  crest  fierce  ocean's  sword 

Shall  wave  triumphantly.    Men's  hearts  shall  fail ; 

For  tribulations  till  that  hour  unknown, 

Save  in  the  feeble  typings  of  the  past, 

Terrors  of  famine,  fire,  and  pestilence, 

Terrors  of  tempest,  war,  and  earthquake  shock, 

Allied  to  horrors  strange  as  manifold, 

Shall  stalk  abroad  to  humble  humankind ; 

To  lift  the  lowly  and  abase  the  proud, 

To  straight  the  crooked  and  make  smooth  the  crude, 

Jehovah's  awful  pathway  to  prepare ; 

Jehovah,  He  who  cometh  to  his  own, 

And  by  his  own  at  last  is  recognized. 

"  No  more  a  lowly  Lamb  to  slaughter  led, 
But  as  a  Lion  in  his  risen  strength ; 


The  Messenger  of  Morn  65 

Though  gentleness  and  might  shall  mingle  there, 
And  mercy  walk  with  justice  evermore. 

"  But  now  the  harvesters  of  Elohim 

Here  thrust  the  sickle  in  the  ripened  grain, 

Reaping,  while  grace  endures,  for  lives  redeemed. 

"  Truth  wells  from  earth,  pours  righteousness  from  heaven, 

Till  wisdom's  waters  inundate  the  world ; 

A  spirit  deluge,  symbolized  of  old 

When  earth  a  burial  found  within  the  wave, 

Stirred  now  by  breath  from  angel  trumpets  blown, 

Wafting  the  chosen  seed  to  safety's  strand ; 

Philistia's  shoulder  bearing  Israel's  flight, 

Winning  the  West,  ere  yet  the  East  be  spoiled. 

"  Elijah  comes — Elijah,  he  whose  rays 
Bespeak  the  Lord  of  Glory,  from  whose  light 
All  splendors,  paling,  hide  their  tapers  dim. 
He  comes  the  world  to  reap,  the  vineyard  prune, 
The  wheat  to  garner  and  the  tares  to  burn ; 
He  comes,  his  face  a  furnace,  melting  pride, 
Consuming  wickedness  and  cleansing  worth. 
He  comes  the  hearts  of  sons  and  sires  to  turn, 
To  plant  anew  the  promises  of  old, 
Binding  the  present  to  the  parent  past, 
Part  unto  whole,  time  to  eternity. 
He  comes  the  Priesthood's  fulness  to  unfold, 
The  capstone  of  life's  temple  here  to  lay. 


66  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

He  comes  lest  man  be  taken  unaware, 
And  laggard  earth  be  smitten  with  a  curse. 

"  Hark  to  that  Prophet,  outstretched  arm  of  God, 
Who  comes  the  Ancient  Order  to  restore ; 
And  list  to  him  who  leads,  as  Moses  led, 
The  ransomed  of  the  Lord,  by  power  redeemed ! " 


Thrice  through  the  night  the  radiant  messenger 
In  burning  words  breathed  forth  the  marvel  told, 
Till  memory's  page,  as  traced  with  pen  of  fire, 
Glowed  with  each  utterance  ineffaceable. 
And  on  the  morrow  stood  the  sacred  twain — 
Mortal,  immortal,  present  linked  with  past— 
Above  the  spot  where  slumbering  truth  reposed; 
Not  to  be  wakened  yet,  till  autumns  four 
Had  rained  their  dews  upon  its  resting-place. 

Meanwhile  the  Prophet,  by  the  Angel  taught, 
In  faith  and  patience  disciplined  his  soul ; 
And  yearly  visiting  that  lonely  mount, 
Vigiled  by  him,  the  heavenly  sentinel, 
Learned  from  his  lips  a  story  of  the  past, 
Affirmed  in  full  when  risen  truth  revealed 
The  pent-up  secret  of  the  centuries. 


Canto  VI 
From  Out  the  Dust 


67 


ihe  Dust 


|Y  native  land  and  thine  the  future  throne 
Of  Him  whose  messenger  I  speed  before; 
Whose  messenger  and  missile  thou,  a  stone 
Hurled  from  the  mountain  of  the  evermore. 
The  God  OT 
If o  tyrfc 
And  nations  here,  that  for  a  season  bore 

RAMAH-CUMORAH 

"  that  Mount  of  mystery, 

Of  buried  lore  the  solemn  sepulchre"  ' 

•>niitmec  witii  guilt  the  cup  of  crime, 
Ripened  the  harvest  of  iniqt. 
To  races,  nations,  men,  there  is  a  time 
To  come  and  go,  as  wisdom  shall  decree,— 

But  sir.,  us  will, 

Who  make  or  mar  a  & 
And  by  their  deeds  the  fa  te 
Electing  to  be  clean,  or  unclean  lr 

Race  upon  race  has  perished  in  its  p< 
And  nations  lustrous  as  the  lights  of  fee*  we 
Have  sinned  and  sunk,  in  reckless  suic^* 
Upon  this  soil,  since  that  dread  word  was  given. 


From  Out  the  Dust 

native  land  and  thine  the  future  throne 
Of  Him  whose  messenger  I  speed  before ; 
Whose  messenger  and  missile  thou,  a  stone 
Hurled  from  the  mountain  of  the  evermore. 
The  God  of  freedom,  God  of  justice,  swore 
No  tyrant  should  this  chosen  land  defile ; 
And  nations  here,  that  for  a  season  bore 
The  palm  of  power,  must  righteous  be  the  while, 
Or  ruin's  avalanche  ruin  on  ruin  pile. 

Though  not  till  brimmed  with  guilt  the  cup  of  crime, 
Ripened  the  harvest  of  iniquity. 
To  races,  nations,  men,  there  is  a  time 
To  come  and  go,  as  wisdom  shall  decree,— 
Wisdom  supreme,  tongue  of  Eternity. 
But  strikes  the  hour  as  men  and  nations  will, 
Who  make  or  mar  a  deathless  destiny, 
And  by  their  deeds  the  fateful  measure  fill, 
Electing  to  be  clean,  or  unclean  lingering  still. 

Race  upon  race  has  perished  in  its  pride, 
And  nations  lustrous  as  the  lights  of  heaven 
Have  sinned  and  sunk,  in  reckless  suicide, 
Upon  this  soil,  since  that  dread  word  was  given. 

69 


70  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Realms  battle-rent  and  regions  tempest-riven ; 
The  wrath-swept  land  for  ages  desolate ; 
A  wretched  remnant  blasted,  curst,  and  driven 
Forth  by  the  furies  of  revengeful  fate ; 
Till  Wonder  asks  in  vain,  What  of  their  former  state  ? 

Wouldst  know  the  cause,  the  upas-tree  that  bore 
The  blight  of  desolation  ?     'T  is  a  theme 
To  melt  Earth's  heart,  and  move  all  Heaven  to  pour 
With  sorrow's  heaving  flood,  as  when  supreme 
O'er  fallen  Lucifer,  the  generous  stream 
Of  grief  half  quenched  the  joy  of  victory. 
Mark  how  the  annals  of  the  ages  teem 
With  repetition !    Time,  eternity, 
The  same  have  taught ;  but  few,  alas !  the  moral  see. 

There  is  a  sin  called  self,  which  binds  the  world 
In  fetters  fell,  than  all  save  truth  more  strong; 
A  sin  most  serpentine,  round  all  men  curled, 
And  in  its  fatal  fold  earth  writhes  full  long; 
Crime's  great  first  cause,  the  primal  root  of  wrong, 
Parent  of  pride  and  tree  of  tyranny. 
To  lay  the  axe  doth  unto  thee  belong. 
Strike,  that  the  world  may  know  of  liberty, 
And  Zion's  land  indeed  a  land  of  Zion  be ! 

A  choice  land,  blest  above  all  other  lands, 
Since  earth,  reborn,  rose  sinless  from  the  flood, 
Ages  ere  human  malice  pierced  the  hands 
Of  Him  who  poured  the  all-redeeming  blood. 


From  Out  the  Dust  71 

Here  stands  the  ancient  Altar,  and  here  stood 
The  Ark,  till  borne  triumphant  o'er  the  wave, — 
The  hungry  wave  that  made  all  flesh  its  food, 
All  save  a  few,  whom  godly  living  gave 
To  see  life's  single  way  and  shun  death's  dual  grave. 

The  Old  World,  not  the  New,— this  soil  misnamed; 
Cradle  of  man  and  grave  of  nations  vast, 
Whose  glory,  wealth,  and  wisdom  had  outfamed 
The  mightiest  of  known  empires,  present,  past; 
The  land  where  Adam  dwelt,  where  Eden  cast 
Forth  from  her  flaming  gate  the  fateful  pair 
Who  fell  that  man  might  be ;  a  fall  still  chaste, 
Albeit  they  sinned,  descending  death's  dread  stair 
To  fling  life's  ladder  down,  Love's  work  and  way  prepare. 

Here  rose  the  Zion  of  primeval  days, 
Type  of  a  greater  Zion,  yet  to  rise ; 
Here  gleaming  walls  and  towers  returned  the  rays 
Terrestrial,  streaming  from  faith-rent  skies, 
Whose  gates,  wide-flung,  gave  welcome.     Upward  flies 
The  sainted  city,  self  denied,  dethroned. 
In  all  things  one,  their  power  e'en  death  defies. 
In  dust  they  ne'er  shall  slumber;  they  atoned 
For  sin  with  sacrifice,  and  Christ  hath  all  condoned. 

Here  cometh  up  the  New  Jerusalem; 
Here  cometh  down  that  risen  realm  of  old, 
Jehovah's  seat,  earth's  jewelled  diadem, 
Joy  of  the  world,  by  prophet  tongues  extolled. 


72  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Japheth,  here  joined  with  Shem,  finds  Israel's  fold, 
An  ark  of  peace  amid  a  world  of  war. 
The  Ensign  on  the  Mountain  here  behold ! 
'T  is  Joseph  signals  Jacob  from  afar, 
And  points  him  to  the  goal  where  God  and  glory  are. 

Ancient  of  Days  here  sits,  as  at  the  first, 
When  time  and  earth  and  Adam's  race  were  young; 
When,  bowed  with  age,  a  great  soul's  sunset  burst 
In  blessings  on  his  seed,  while  told  that  tongue 
Far  more  than  eye  hath  seen  or  lip  hath  sung. 
Michael,  the  prince,  the  monarch  of  our  race, 
Sire  of  the  soul,  whence  dust  and  spirit  sprung, — 
Here  sits  he,  throned  in  fire ;  before  his  face 
Ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  throng  the  judgment  place. 

Wherefore  this  land  must  unpolluted  be; 
Or  if  defiled,  by  blood  again  made  clean 
From  grime  of  sin,  from  grind  of  tyranny ; 
Free  from  the  ills  that  other  lands  have  seen, 
Free  from  the  blots  that  now  dim  Freedom's  sheen. 
No  nation  by  vain  boasting  shall  abide. 
Bid  thine  beware,  lest  here  the  sanguine  scene 
Reacted  be,  and  ruin,  spawn  of  pride, 
Spring  from  the  soil  where  nations  great  as  thine  have  died. 

But  will  she  heed  ?    Who  knoweth?     One  alone. 
His  word  remains,  and  it  must  aye  remain. 
The  land  is  Liberty's;  she  reared  her  throne 
Ere  Jacob's  race  or  Japheth's  thought  to  reign. 


From  Out  the  Dust  73 

And  though  the  soil  be  not  all  free  from  stain, 
Till  past  the  pale  of  penitence  she  stand, 
Woe  unto  them  that  work  or  plot  her  pain ! 
Warring  'gainst  God,  hurled  stormward  from  the  strand, 
Welters  the  shattered  fleet,  bruised,  broken  without  hand. 

Hesperia,  keep  thy  'scutcheon  pure  from  stain! 
No  foreign  foe  'gainst  thee  or  thine  prevails ; 
Here  nations  slay  themselves  if  they  be  slain ; 
Brother  'gainst  brother,  sire  'gainst  son,  till  fails 
The  fount  of  widow's  tears  and  orphan's  wails. 
Hearken  to  him  Jehovah's  edict  sends, 
Whom  Jacob's  coming  host  as  chieftain  hails, 
That  peace  and  freedom  may  remain  thy  friends, 
While  hither,  from  all  lands,  all  worlds,  God's  glory  wends. 

And  Love  shall  light  a  realm  of  liberty, 
Theme  of  the  prophet  tongue,  the  poet  pen, 
And  winged  with  power  and  crowned  with  purity, 
Earth  shine  a  heaven,  where  gods  and  godlike  men, — 
Fraternity  divine,  that  e'er  hath  been 
And  e'er  shall  be  the  blissful  lot  of  those 
Who,  conquering  self,  bind  Satan,  fetter  sin, — 
Soaring  beyond  the  bourne  of  earthly  woes, 
Rise  to  the  sainted  plane  as  all  past  Zions  rose. 

A  gathering  from  the  universe  I  see, 
From  realms  above  as  realms  beneath  the  sky; 
The  powers  of  heaven  shall  thy  dread  watchmen  be, 
And  Gog  and  Magog  menace  but  to  die. 


74  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

While  they  that  serve  the  Lord  with  single  eye 
Shall  see  Him  in  the  midst,  the  goal  then  won, 
When  time  no  longer  flecks  eternity, 
Nor  need  is  there  of  star,  or  moon,  or  sun, 
Since  He,  light's  self,  is  risen,  and  heaven  and  earth  are  one. 


Thus  far  the  Angel,  Raman's  sentinel, 
Custodian  of  Cumorah's  archive  old ; 
Thus  he,  the  spelled  yet  speechful  auditor 
Around  the  hearthside  of  that  humble  home, 
Where  sire  and  matron,  trusted  kith  and  kin, 
Took  from  his  word  the  tidings  wonderful, 
Gave  faithful  credence  to  the  story  strange, 
And  stood  him  staunch  through  all  emergency. 

Thence  oft  above  that  mount  of  mystery, 

Of  buried  lore  the  solemn  sepulchre, 

Meet  modern  seer  and  ancient  oracle ; 

And  while  Humility  at  Wisdom's  feet 

Expectant  waits,  where  truth  from  earth  shall  spring, 

Comes,  as  from  riven  tomb,  this  wondrous  tale : 


List,  Joseph,  list!     Since  olden  time  when  torn 
Was  earth  asunder, — ocean's  trenchant  sword 
The  wedded  lands  wide  severing, — swiftly  borne 
Safe  through  the  watery  deeps,  as  there  devoured 
By  wind  and  wave  that  harmless  o'er  them  roared ; 


From  Out  the  Dust  75 

The  pilgrim  sons  of  Shinar,  favored  band, 
From  that  far  clime  where  Babel's  folly  towered, 
And  language  foundered  on  confusion's  strand, 
Won  first  this  precious  heritage,  this  promised  land. 

Custodian  of  a  pure  and  primal  tongue, 
Most  faithful  found  'mid  living  sons  of  men, 
Their  leader  looked  on  God ;  then  wrestling  wrung 
By  spirit  might,  and  paged  with  fiery  pen, 
The  full  of  what  should  be,  of  what  had  been; 
Sealing  the  secret  till  an  hour  should  chime 
When  faith  as  mighty  unto  mortal  ken 
Should  bring  the  marvel  of  that  book  sublime, 
Bridging  with  lightful  lore  the  shadowy  gulf  of  time. 

But  trustful  prows  now  part  the  unknown  wave; 
Above,  around,  baptismal  billows  roll; 
Divinity  their  guide,  their  star,  their  stave, 
Else  had  that  sea  been  fatal  to  the  soul; 
Though  tight  each  launch,  where  light  through  darkness  stole 
From  molten  stones,  late  struck  from  Shelem's  height, 
And  lit  by  touch  divine.     Unto  the  goal 
Of  that  great  voyage,  banishing  the  night, 
Those  crystal  miracles  gave  forth  their  friendly  light. 

Till  loomed  to  wistful  eyes  this  waiting  land, 
Spreading,  like  eagle's  wings,  its  arms  afar, 
As  if  to  welcome  worlds.    That  wave-borne  band 
The  Northland  chose,  lured  by  a  favoring  star; 
For  South,  as  North,  of  human  soul  was  bare. 


76  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

But  liberty  loves  most  a  northern  zone, 
Where  nature's  ramparts  e'en  'gainst  nature's  war 
Put  forth  protection.     Liberty  alone 
This  sacred  realm  shall  rule,  of  old  her  lineal  throne. 

God's  favor  now,  as  then,  made  manifest. 
What  creed  or  clan  may  win  thy  country's  crown? 
Though  thou  and  thine  anon  be  sore  oppressed, 
Columbia's  face  reflect  Europia's  frown, 
Sceptred  religion  ne'er  shall  tread  thee  down. 
Belief  and  unbelief  here  find  one  plane ; 
And  this  that  tender  truth  be  not  o'erthrown, 
But  spring  and  spread  till  every  tongue  maintain 
The  kingdom  of  the  King  whose  throne  all  worlds  sustain. 

The  God  of  Israel  is  the  God  of  all; 
A  foe  to  bigot  creed  and  tyrant  clan ; 
His  purpose  to  annihilate  each  thrall 
That  binds  the  body  or  the  soul  of  man. 
But  order,  union,  parts  of  freedom's  plan; 
And  anarchy  aloft  would  foil  the  aim 
Of  Him  who  burdens  with  proscriptive  ban 
Misuse  of  Heaven-lent  power;  who  dooms  to  shame 
The  despot's  iron  rule,  whate'er  its  place  or  name. 

Till  One  shall  rise  whose  right  it  is  to  reign, 
Whose  throne  is  peace,  whose  sceptre  righteousness, 
To  rear  a  sovereign  on  this  soil  were  vain. 
Here  kingcraft,  priestcraft,  plant  their  sure  distress. 
For  what  is  man,  that  one  should  aught  possess 


From  Out  the  Dust  77 

Above  another,  deeming  it  his  own, 
When  all  is  God's?    Because  of  selfishness, 
Pride,  tyranny,  and  greed,  with  heart  of  stone, 
Welters  the  world  in  sin,  and  guilt  must  yet  atone. 

"  Give  us  a  king! "  they  cried,  when  years  had  flown, 
When  wealth  was  massed,  and  men  were  multiplied ; 
"A  king!  a  king!  uprear  a  royal  throne, 
That  past  restraint  our  race's  might  may  stride, 
From  northern  lake  to  southern  ocean  tide." 
Grieved  was  the  nation's  wise  and  valiant  sire ; 
Grieved  was  the  faithful  kinsman  at  his  side ; 
From  eyes  of  both  shot  gleams  of  righteous  ire, 
For  both  had  fanned  at  Freedom's  shrine  her  holy  fire. 

They  sighed :    "  This  leadeth  to  captivity, 
Perchance  destruction,  ending  dark  and  dire ; 
Yet  must  they  have  their  will, — their  agency, — 
God's  early  gift.     Alas!  that  Freedom's  fire, 
Misplaced,  should  kindle  oft  her  fatal  pyre." 
So  saying,  they  anointed  one  their  king 
Who  craved  the  crown  disdained  by  natures  higher, 
Denying  base  ambition  lest  it  bring 
A  world  of  woes,  known  woes  and  worlds  outnumbering. 

For  though  a  king  be  righteous  in  the  main, 
As  he,  the  monarch  whom  this  nation  chose, 
What  ruler  from  misrule  can  all  refrain, 
When  privilege  lifts  power  o'er  friends  and  foes  ? 
Rare  is  the  reign  untarnished  to  the  close, 


78  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

And  rarer  still  the  blameless  dynasty, 
Where  oft  unkingliest  as  princes  pose, 
Because,  forsooth,  they  come  of  some  tall  tree 
Whose  trunk  was  sound,  while  these  its  branches  blasted  be. 

A  king 's  a  king  when  acting  like  a  king; 
When  cowering  like  a  slave  he  is  a  slave ; 
Nor  blood,  nor  birth,  nor  all  that  pride  can  bring 
To  prove  a  serf  a  sovereign  lord,  can  save 
The  purple  tide  from  mingling  with  its  wave. 
The  soul  must  royal  be,  or  there  Js  an  end 
To  royalty;  spirit,  not  blood,  God  gave; 
And  each  at  last  a  separate  way  must  wend 
Back  to  its  origin,  no  more  to  meet  and  blend. 

Scarce  gone  the  goodly  ruler,  when  that  realm 
Saw  fierce  rebellion  rear  its  horrent  head. 
Usurping  treason  seized  the  civic  helm, 
Wrong  trampled  right,  and  justice,  judgment,  fled. 
Then  strife,  division,  hosts  to  battle  led ; 
The  prophets,  mocked,  lif t  warning  voice  in  vain ; 
A  blood-soaked  continent,  a  sea  of  dead, 
And  of  that  mighty  nation,  fallen,  self-slain, 
A  prophet  and  a  king,  a  solitary  twain. 

That  prophet  saw  the  coming  of  the  Lord 

Unto  the  Old,  the  New,  Jerusalem; 

Saw  Israel  returning  at  His  word 

From  wheresoe'er  His  will  had  scattered  them; 

The  realm's  wide  ruin  saw,  and  strove  to  stem. 


From  Out  the  Dust  79 

That  king,  sole  scion  of  a  slaughtered  race, 
Casting  his  blood-stained  sword  and  diadem, 
Lived  but  to  see  another  nation  place 
Firm  foot  upon  the  soil,  then  vanished  from  its  face. 


Wondrous  indeed  that  ancient  word  and  wise, 
But  wiser  and  more  wondrous  yet  in  store ; 
As  tells  the  after  tale,  which  fell  betime 
From  tongue  forerunner  of  the  tome  of  gold : 


Again  athwart  the  wilderness  of  waves, 
Surging  old  East  and  older  West  between, 
Where  the  lone  sea  the  flowery  Southland  laves, 
And  crowns  o'er  many  climes  the  Chilean  queen, 
Braving  the  swell,  a  storm-tossed  bark  is  seen. 
From  doomed  Jerusalem,  to  Jacob  dear, 
Albeit  a  leper,  groping,  blind,  unclean, 
Goes  forth  Manasseh's  prophet  pioneer, 
Predestined  to  unveil  the  hidden  hemisphere. 

His  lot  to  reap  and  plant  on  this  far  shore 
The  promise  of  his  fathers.    Joseph's  bough, 
From  Jacob's  well,  the  billowy  wall  runs  o'er. 
Abides  in  strength  the  archer-stricken  bow, 
Unto  the  utmost  bound  prevailing  now, 
Of  Hesper's  heaven-inviting  hills.     Bend  sheaves 
Of  Israel,  as  branches  bend  with  snow, 


8o  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Unto  his  sheaf  as  mightiest ;  and  as  leaves 
For  multitude,  the  son  the  great  sire's  glory  weaves. 

His  earthly  duty  done,  ere  chimes  the  hour 
That  summons  his  return  to  restful  toil 
In  risen  worlds,  where  life  puts  on  all  power, 
He  calls  his  kindred  near,— their  hearts  the  while 
Aglow  beneath  the  burning  words  that  pile 
A  pyramid  of  prophecy,  whose  spire 
Empierces  heaven — and  lest  they  soil 
Their  spirits  pure,  and  part  the  wave  of  fire, 
Warns  them  'gainst  ways  of  pride  and  paths  of  dark  desire. 

He  speaks  of  Joseph's,  Judah's  destiny; 
Of  blighting  and  of  blessings  yet  to  pour ; 
Proclaims  a  mighty  one  his  seed  shall  see, 
Who  many  of  the  wandering  shall  restore ; 
A  chosen  seer  foretells,  revealed  of  yore 
When  Jacob's  racial  star  o'er  Egypt  rose, 
Herejbringing  from  the  dust  a  buried  lore. 
Then  seals  his  benison  in  solemn  close ; 
And  seeks  a  realm  divine,  the  soul's  supreme  repose. 

The  favored  son  of  that  prophetic  sire— 
Favored  because  most  faithful  and  most  just — 
Hath  soared  to  sacred  mysteries  yet  higher, 
And  to  the  elder  scions  tongued  the  trust. 
And  serpent  self,  that  demon  of  the  dust, 
Hath  coiled,  with  pride  and  envy,  round  the  souls 
Ne'er  friendly  though  fraternal,  whose  distrust 


From  Out  the  Dust  .81 

And  jealousy  breed  bitterness  that  rolls 
Rivers  of  wormwood  'twixt  two  races  and  their  goals. 

Thence  peoples  twain  the  promised  land  divide. 
Northland  and  Southland  see  their  tribes  increase, 
From  Arctic  ice-floe  to  Antarctic  tide ; 
From  where  the  eastern  waves  their  thunders  cease, 
To  where  the  western  waters  are  at  peace. 
White  and  delightsome,  they  that  worship  God ; 
They  that  deny  Him — dark,  degenerate  these ; 
Doomed  the  stern  wild  to  penetrate  and  plod ; 
Transgression's  scourge  and  school,  the  Master's  chastening  rod. 

The  throneless  ruler  of  the  regnant  race, 
King,  but  no  tyrant — prophet,  priest,  and  seer, 
Meets  upon  sacred  summits,  face  to  face, — 
As  when  to  Moses  drew  Jehovah  near,— 
The  Holy  One,  the  Spirit  messenger; 
Meets  Him  as  man  meets  man,  and  by  His  grace 
The  gift  is  given  with  seeric  eye  to  peer, 
Time's  vista  viewing  through  prophetic  glass. 
Plain  to  his  gaze  revealed,  the  unborn  ages  pass. 

War,  slaughter,  conquest;  heroes,  sages,  famed; 
Kingdoms,  republics,  empires,  rise  and  fall ; 
Till  pride  unknown  and  tyranny  unnamed 
Where  righteous  rule  brings  blessedness  to  all. 
Then  self  again,  the  universal  thrall. 
The  faithful  dead,  or  dwindled  to  a  few, 
Crime  begets  crimes,  the  heavens  to  appall. 

6 


82  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Now  arrows  of  God's  wrath  the  nations  strew, 
And  horrors  piled  on  horrors  make  misery's  retinue. 

All  this  and  more  the  prescient  monarch  saw; 
Messiah's  self,  Jehovah,  Him  beheld ; 
The  Lamb  of  God,  in  whom  was  found  no  flaw, 
Though  hate's  black  billows  round  Him  surged  and  swelled; 
Life's  deathless  tree — deathless,  though  demon-felled; 
The  crash  resounding  to  this  far-off  shore, 
Whose  winnowed  remnant  welcomed  Him  revealed 
In  risen  glory,  when  had  ceased  the  roar 
And  raging  of  the  tempest  heralds  sent  before. 

At  whose  rebuke  the  haughty  mountains  bowed, 
Shorn  by  the  whirlwind,  sunk,  or  swept  away, 
No  more  their  frown  the  lowly  valleys  cowed, 
Rising  like  billows  'mid  the  wrathful  fray, 
And  dashing  'gainst  the  skies  their  dusty  spray. 
Rocks,  boulders,  hills,  no  Titan  strength  could  lift, 
Hurtle  as  pebbles  in  the  storm-fiend's  play. 
Earth  opes  her  jaws,  and  through  the  yawning  rift, 
Cities,  peoples,  vanish,  of  hope,  of  life,  bereft. 

Three  hours  of  tempest  and  three  days  of  night ; 
Thick  darkness,  thunder-burst,  and  lightning  flash; 
Millions  engulfed,  millions  in  prostrate  plight, 
Grovelling  as  slaves  that  feel  or  fear  the  lash, 
Mingling  their  groans  and  cries  with  grind  and  crash 
Of  crags  the  cyclone's  catapult  impels, 
Whose  shrieking  flails  the  fields  and  forests  thrash. 


82 

Ifow 


>ci  was  !  uund  no  flaw, 

^ed  and  swelled; 
.>ugib  dciiioi 


EARTH  OPES  HER  JA  WS 

"  Earth  opes  her  jaws,  and  through  the  yawning  rift 
Cities,  peoples,  vanish,  of  hope,  of  life  bereft." 

No  more  their  frown  cowed, 


i>bje>  la  the  ste 

-p«8  her  jaws,  and  through  the  yawning  i 
,  peoples,  vanish,  of  hope,  of  life,  bereft. 

Three  hours  of  tempest  and  three  days  of  night; 
Thick  darkness,  thunder-burst,  and  lightning  flash; 
Millions  engulfed,  millions  in  prostrate  plight, 
elling  as  slaves  that  ash, 

ig  their  groans  and  a  ad  and  crash 

Of  crags  the  cyclone's  catapult  imp* 

king  flails  the  fiekU  and  forests  thrash. 


f  VNIV 

N£jU: 


From  Out  the  Dust  83 

Wild  o'er  the  land  roused  Ocean's  anger  swells; 
Fierce  Flame's  prophetic  tongue  the  final  doom  foretells. 

Three  hours  of  stormful  strife; — then  all  is  still, 
Save  for  a  Voice  the  universe  might  hear, 
Proclaiming  what  hath  happed  as  Heaven's  high  will, 
Dispensing  pardon  and  dispelling  fear, 
Drawing  the  righteous  nearer  and  more  near. 
Anon  He  lifts  the  curtain  of  the  sky! 
The  midday  sun  no  more  their  minister; 
Greater  hath  risen ;  and  glories  multiply 
As  angels  in  their  gaze  earthward  and  heavenward  fly. 

He  greets  them  as  a  shepherd  greets  his  flock ; 
Shows  them  His  wounded  side,  His  hands,  His  feet ; 
Then  builds  His  Church  upon  the  stricken  Rock, 
Where  flow  life's  healing  waters,  limpid,  sweet, 
As  infant  innocence,  that  joys  to  meet 
Its  great  Original.     With  holy  hand 
He  ministers,  bids  death  and  hell  retreat, 
And  singles  twelve  from  out  the  sainted  band 
To  sow  with  Gospel  light  the  furrowed,  tear-worn  land. 

He  bids  them  write  His  plain  and  precious  word, 
What  His  own  tongue  hath  told,  and  all  that  seers 
And  prophets,  hereto  heralding  their  Lord, 
Have  poured  into  a  world's  unwilling  ears ; 
That  truth  with  truth  may  blend  in  after  years, 
As  rivers  many  to  one  ocean  flow; 
That  when  Messiah  in  His  might  appears, 


84  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Men  all  may  see  Him  as  He  is,  and  know 
The  Majesty  of  Heaven,  'mid  nations  bending  low. 

He  greets  them  as  His  "  other  sheep,"  the  fold 
Unknown  to  Judah,  but  to  Jesus  known ; 
And  tells  of  others  still,  whose  fate  untold 
Hath  been  the  sceptic's  scoff  and  stumbling  stone. 
These  yet  must  hear  His  voice,  that  one  alone 
May  shepherd  be,  and  one  fold  gather  all 
The  flock  of  faith,  where'er  from  zone  to  zone 
They  wander,  and  shall  heed  the  warning  call; 
Fleeing  to  Zion's  shore  ere  crumbling  Babel  fall. 

He  numbers  them  with  Joseph,  named  of  old, 
Whom  cruel  wolves  will  tear  in  time  to  come, 
Because  a  Jacob  here  his  portion  sold, 
A  prodigal  forsook  the  parent  dome 
To  riot  in  the  wilderness  and  roam, 
Feeding  on  husks ;  yet  turning  at  the  last 
To  where  looms  high  the  Father's  heavenly  home, 
And  where,  when  retribution's  hour  is  past, 
Forgiven,  at  His  dear  feet  the  weary  soul  is  cast. 

Anon  he  pictures  Japheth's  destiny, 

The  Gentile  prospering  hi  the  promised  land, 

The  guardian  of  the  realm  of  Liberty, 

So  long  as  he  for  human  right  shall  stand, 

Nor  trample  on  Jehovah's  just  command. 

But  woe  to  them  of  flinty  heart  and  face 

Who  from  Him  turn,  to  smite  with  ruthless  hand 


From  Out  the  Dust  85 

The  withered  remnant  of  a  star-ruled  race, 
For  Laman  yet  shall  spring,  a  lion  to  the  chase ! 

His  word  now  builds  the  New  Jerusalem 
(Earth-born,  though  basking  in  eternal  rays), 
Which  Japheth,  blent  with  Jacob,  joined  with  Shem, 
Shall  rear  on  Joseph's  land  in  latter  days ; 
The  Father's  work  of  wonder  and  amaze ; 
A  servant  marred,  though  hurt  not,  and  yet  healed, 
Whom  Wisdom  hearkens  to,  whom  Faith  obeys; 
Arm  of  the  Lord,  long  lying  unrevealed, 
Then  lifted  and  made  bare,  His  flock  to  fold  and  shield. 

Now  sounds  a  parting  note,  a  plaint  of  woe, 
Of  warning  'gainst  iniquity  to  be, 
Ere  purifying  floods  o'er  earth  shall  flow, 
And  man  from  sin's  duress  delivered  be. 
Then,  of  the  twelve,  He  sanctifieth  three 
With  power  o'er  death,  and  gives  them  to  remain 
Till  comes  He  in  his  glory.     Lo!  they  see 
Unrolling  heavens  receive  Him  once  again ; 
And  marvels  else  behold,  but  wisdom  bids  restrain. 

Three  generations  pass  in  righteousness; 
A  fourth  begins,  and  still  from  strand  to  strand 
Peace  rules,  love  reigns,  and  wealth  and  wisdom  bless 
The  banded  nations,  walking  hand  in  hand, 
Christ's  word  and  will  supreme  o'er  all  the  land. 
No  rich,  no  poor,  common  their  goods,  their  gold ; 
Nor  high,  nor  low,  all  free  and  equal  stand, 


86  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Loving  each  one  his  neighbor  as  of  old ; 
Foretaste  of  rarer  feast  revealing  tongues  foretold. 

Two  centuries  of  love  the  land  caress; 
Buried  the  ancient  feud,  and  banished  vice ; 
When  pride,  that  springs  from  dust  to  breed  distress, 
Crawls  like  a  serpent  to  this  paradise. 
Again  the  tempter's  wiles  the  weak  entice ; 
Again  the  fall,  the  sorrow,  and  the  shame ; 
Again,  while  angels  weep,  the  fiends  rejoice ; 
For  now  come  strife,  division,  hearts  aflame, 
Hatred  of  humankind,  revilement  of  God's  name. 

Farewell  to  peace  and  power  forever  past ! 
Deepest  in  crime  a  once  delightsome  race, 
Which  melts  as  would  the  avalanche  if  cast 
Into  the  furnace  of  the  red  sun's  face. 
Men  vie  in  deeds  that  devils  would  debase ; 
Southland  'gainst  Northland  strives  with  might  insane ; 
Backward,  still  backward,  bends  the  bloody  chase ; 
Crimson  the  land  with  carnage ;  main  to  main 
Surges  a  sea  of  slaughter ;  millions  are  the  slain. 

The  white  dissolves;  the  swart,  the  red,  remains; 
Night  clothes  the  continents,  and  thwart  the  gloom 
No  ray  descends  on  shadowed  .peaks  or  plains 
From  history's  sun ;  darkness,  a  living  doom, 
Mantling  mind,  soul,  making  the  world  one  tomb. 
Then  bursts  the  dawn !    Breaks  forth  the  East  in  light, 
Where  Japheth,  cramped  and  straitened,  cries  for  room, 


From  Out  the  Dust  87 

Rent  mystery's  veil,  naked,  in  savage  plight, 
Now  Occidental  realms  greet  Oriental  sight. 

First  found  by  him  whose  faith  was  mightiest; 
And  last  by  one  whose  patience  most  excels. 
Ere  storm-pushed  prow  hath  pierced  the  wordless  West, 
That  kingly  soul,  unthroned,  uncrowned,  compels 
The  homage  of  a  queen ;  a  glance  dispels 
The  gathered  gloom  of  ages;  mutineers 
And  malcontents  his  courage  calms  and  quells; 
Boldly  through  seas  of  bigotry  he  steers, 
And  builds  a  bridge  of  life  that  binds  the  hemispheres. 

The  Gentile  comes,  as  destiny  decrees, 
To  Joseph's  land  of  wonders  held  in  store. 
Freedom  his  watchword,  sons  of  Freedom  these, 
Like  to  the  favored  bands  that  long  before 
A  refuge  found  upon  this  sheltering  shore. 
But  champions  of  right  oft  wrong  the  right; 
Oppressed  become  oppressors  in  an  hour; 
And  now,  as  day  that  pushes  back  the  night, 
The  strong  the  weak  assail,  enslave,  and  put  to  flight. 

Nor  yet  can  fate  forsake  them.     Japheth's  hand 
'Gainst  Jacob's  wrath-doomed  remnant  still  prevails. 
Tyrants  oppress  him  from  the  motherland ; 
The  Lord  of  hosts  a  champion  arms  and  mails, 
To  match  whose  might  no  human  power  avails ; 
Nor  grander  cause  or  chieftain  e'er  came  forth. 
Him  as  its  sire  a  new-born  nation  hails, 


88  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

And  fain  would  crown  him,  spite  his  will,  his  birth, 
Did  Heaven  vouchsafe  such  king  to  shame  most  kings  of  earth 

Real  though  oft  recreant  sons  of  Deity, 
Builders,  o'erthrowers,  of  imperial  thrones, 
In  wrongful  act  of  rightful  agency 
Drenching  with  blood,  paving  with  human  bones 
The  path  to  power,  gruesome  with  tears  and  groans. 
Their  lives  a  failure  ?     God  a  failure  ?     Nay; 
Whatever  betide,  the  soul  that  sins  atones ; 
And  He  who  casts  the  parts  all  mortals  play, 
Succeeds  He  ever,  His  the  night,  and  His  the  day. 

Thine  antecedents,  thy  forerunners,  these, 
Prophet  of  Ephraim,  Joseph's  namesake  seer ! 
More  than  those  ancient  bridgers  of  the  seas, 
Unveiler  of  the  long-hid  hemisphere, 
Whose  secret  't  is  lies  booked  and  buried  here. 
Bring  forth  that  word  of  Joseph,  now  to  join 
With  Judah's  word,  Messiah's  throne  to  rear; 
That  high  may  rise  and  holily  may  shine 
God's  house,  the  pure-in-heart,  kingdom  of  King  divine. 

That  He  to  the  red  remnant  may  reveal 
The  great  things  done,  and  greater  yet  to  do, 
That  bring  deliverance  unto  Israel,— 
To  white,  to  red,  to  men  of  every  hue,— 
To  worlds  redeemed  His  mighty  merit  through. 
Teach  thou  the  way,  tell  how  by  Grace  sublime 
The  spirit  gardens  of  the  endless  blue 


From  Out  the  Dust  89 

Are  visited,  each  vineyard  in  its  time, 
While  glad  sabbatic  bells  ring  out  their  grateful  chime. 

Proclaim  the  dispensation  of  the  end, 
When  all  that  is,  with  all  that  was  before, 
Keys,  powers,  and  glories,  past  and  present,  blend, 
Mingling  as  rivers  at  the  ocean  shore ; 
Where  One  ascends  who  all  things  shall  restore — 
The  dead  to  life,  the  dewdrop  to  its  source. 
Spirit  must  reign,  the  carnal  rule  no  more ; 
And  this  lest  earth,  winging  the  sunward  course, 
Unmeet  for  such  a  change,  melt  'neath  consuming  curse. 

How  else,  till  done  on  earth  the  will  of  Heaven, 
Can  heaven  and  earth  be  one  ? — that  one  for  all, 
Till  perfect  love  each  petty  fear  hath  driven, 
And  man  is  free  from  self's  ignoble  thrall  ? 
Let  not  the  mighty  task  thy  mind  appall. 
What  God  hath  done  shall  He  not  do  again  ? 
A  day  of  power  shall  batter  down  the  wall ; 
The  willing  heart  shall  rend  the  hampering  chain; 
And  o'er  this  ransomed  orb  first  Son,  then  Sire,  shall  reign. 

Curst  be  the  tongue  that  'gainst  thee  shall  contend, 

The  weapon  wielded  'gainst  this  word  of  God, — 

Beginning  of  the  glory  of  the  end, 

The  primal  chapter  of  a  changeless  code, 

The  point,  the  edge,  unto  the  Iron  Rod. 

The  which  withstood,  all  else  must  be  withheld, — 

The  marvel  still  in  mystery's  abode. 


An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Volume  on  volume  yet  to  be  unsealed; 
But  first  the  simpler  things— behold  them  here  revealed ! 

The  purpose  plain,  the  plan  to  come  in  time ; 
Then  shalt  thou  know  and  walk  the  ancient  way, 
The  path  of  peace,  wending  to  power  sublime ; 
The  law  celestial  thou  didst  once  obey, 
Where  gods  and  angels  honor  it  alway; 
Where  greatest  by  humility  are  known, 
Where  justice  reigns  and  order's  endless  sway, 
Where  like  claims  like  and  cleaves  unto  its  own, 
And  sovereign,  subject,  share  the  glory  of  the  throne. 

Smite  thou  that  sin  of  self,  which  binds  the  world 
In  fetters  fell,  than  all  save  truth  more  strong; 
That  sin  most  serpentine,  round  all  men  curled, 
Within  whose  fatal  fold  earth  writhes  full  long. 
To  loose  the  coil  doth  unto  thee  belong. 
To  free  the  soul  from  sordid  tyranny, 
Be  sacrifice  the  burden  of  thy  song. 
Aye,  sacrifice  shall  set  the  prisoner  free, 
And  men  this  truth  shall  learn,  that  light  is  liberty. 


Canto  VII 
The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite 


LAKE  upon  flake,  then  slide  succeeding  slide, 
The  marvel  and  the  wonder  multiplied. 


Till  holds  that  mind — as  holds  the  glacial  store 

Some  cloud-hung,  sunlit  peak  no  storms  outsoar — 

A  glittering  avalanche  of  heavenly  lore, 

Whose  streams  of  life  shall  slake  the  burning  thirst 

Of  time  unborn,  of  nations  yet  unnursed ; 

Torrent  eternal,  river  of  prophecy, 

Flowing  through  worlds  to  find  fulfillment's  sea. 

He  stands,  as  Moses  on  the  mystic  mount, 

Where  knowledge  pours  from  wisdom's  purest  fount; 

Stands  'neath  the  droppings  of  the  crystal  eaves, 

Where  justice,  joined  with  mercy,  winds  and  weaves 

The  solemn  warp  and  woof  of  destiny; 

Where  truth — light's  temple — was,  is,  and  to  be, 

'Lumines  the  vistas  of  immensity. 

He  walks  and  talks  with  God,  as  friend  with  friend; 
He  reads  the  book  of  time  from  end  to  end ; 
And  in  the  volume  of  eternity 
Peruses  past  and  far  futurity; 

93 


94  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

While  from  all  depths  that  sink,  all  heights  that  soar, 
Come  voices,  visions,  of  the  evermore. 
Like  unto  like,  above,  beneath,  the  skies, 
Deep  calls  to  deep,  and  faith  to  faith  replies. 

As  unto  Judah's  one  and  Joseph's  three, 

Who  tasted  of  translation's  ecstasy; 

Or  him  who,  spared  from  Babel's  doom,  beheld 

Messiah's  unclothed  spirit,  faith-compelled; 

Or  him  of  Tarsus,  tranced,  the  triple  seer 

Of  things  unlawful  to  be  uttered  here ; 

As  unto  souls  like  these  was  given  to  see 

The  marvel  past,  the  mystery  to  be, 

So  upon  him,  their  peer  of  modern  days, 

The  Source  of  all  revealing  sends  His  rays. 

'Lumed  by  a  lamp  that  giveth  endless  view, 
Discerns  he  spirits  false  and  spirits  true ; 
Unmasking  Satan  with  the  keys  of  light, 
That  blind  may  see  and  deaf  may  hear  aright 
A  message  marvellous  to  eyes  and  ears, 
The  rhythmic  message  of  the  songful  spheres; 
And  yet  no  tithe  of  what  those  tongues  unfold, 
Nor  tithe  of  tithe  of  what  can  ne'er  be  told. 

He  hears  the  solemn  dispensations  chime 
From  morn  till  eve,  from  birth  to  death,  of  time ; 
He  notes  the  markings  of  the  horologe, 
The  set  times  of  the  great  Eternal  Judge ; 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite  95 

Then  sees  those  dispensations  as  they  run 
Their  lotted  course,  like  hours  'twixt  sun  and  sun. 
Wave  after  wave  rolls  o'er  the  shining  sand, 
Wave  after  wave  breaks  higher  up  the  strand, 
With  all  of  weal  or  woe  the  ages  send. 
As  sundered  ocean  tides  that  shoreward  tend, 
Now  past  and  future  o'er  the  present  pend, 
Till  on  the  narrow  isthmus  sea  meets  sea, 
And  time  no  longer  parts  eternity. 


He  hears  the  soundings  of  the  trumpets  seven, 
Whose  angels,  stooping  from  the  heights  of  heaven, 
Proclaim  in  tones  to  rend  the  echoing  spheres 
The  secrets  of  the  seven  thousand  years; 
The  secret  of  the  book  with  seven  seals, 
That  all  of  mortal  mystery  reveals; 
Time's  scroll,  God's  chronicle,  life's  tale  told  true, 
Nor  tinged  with  favor's  tint,  with  hatred's  hue ; 
Earth's  week  of  history,  whose  sabbath  chime 
Summons  to  rest  the  wearied  soul  of  time. 

Visioned  the  council  of  the  Ancient  One, 
Where  Stars  make  ready  for  the  rising  Sun, 
Where  Adam  yields  the  mortal  world  he  won 
Unto  the  Sabbath  Lord,  till  sabbath  done, 
And  Sire  receives  the  kingdom  from  the  Son. 
Ere  when  eternal  fulness  is  there  none, 
Though  great  ones  gain  the  far  celestial  shore, 


96  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Shining  and  perfect  as  they  shone  before, 
Till  sanctified  is  glorified,  and  thence 
The  stewardship  becomes  inheritance. 

The  all-creating,  all-controlling  chain 

Whereby  the  Gods  perpetuate  their  reign, 

Whereby  the  higher,  bending,  lift  the  lower, 

Lever  of  priestly  and  of  kingly  power; 

The  right  that  rules  the  nations,  ill  aware 

Whence  came  the  thrones  that  have  been,  thrones  that  are ; 

That  sets  up  one  and  puts  another  down, 

Their  fate  proclaimed  as  fortune's  smile  or  frown ; 

The  power  that  reigns  not  save  in  righteousness, 

Persuades  in  meekness,  chastens  but  to  bless; 

The  might  of  heaven,  the  pure  and  potent  chain, 

Stainless  save  mortal  links  their  lustre  stain, 

And  plunged  through  fire  are  purified  again; 

The  Holy  Order  that  for  aye  hath  reigned, 

For  rarest  faith  and  righteous  works  ordained; — 

He  sees  extending  through  the  storms  of  time, 

Christ's  cable,  anchored  with  that  Soul  sublime. 

Pilots  of  life  on  death's  fierce  tempest  tossed ; 

Love's  legionaries,  saviours  of  the  lost; 

A  sacred  army's  solemn  pride  and  boast, 

The  janissaries  of  the  heavenly  host ; 

God's  body-guard,  Jehovah's  diadem, 

The  jewelled  circlet  of  the  Central  Gem. 

Oft  parted,  seemingly,  but  sundered  ne'er, 

Perfected  in  his  gaze  those  links  appear. 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite  97 

He  sees  the  Endless  Order  as  it  came 

By  Adam,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abraham, 

And  each  Ellas  of  the  olden  days, 

As  oft  as  kindled  here  the  beacon  blaze— 

Truth,  intervaled  with  error,  changeful  fate, 

Alternant  shine  and  shadow,  dubious  state, 

Whene'er  mankind  hath  proved  degenerate. 

Though  ever,  as  the  day-beam  sinks  and  dies, 
The  stars  reset  their  lanterns  in  the  skies; 
And  unto  Moses  in  the  wilderness, 
Comes  greater  light,  succeeded  by  the  less; 
Till  Christ  the  fulness  of  His  ray  restores, 
And  heaven  o'er  earth  an  holy  unction  pours 
From  vessels  chosen  on  each  hemisphere 
To  voice  the  tidings  and  the  church  to  rear. 

The  promise  past,  fulfillment  now  is  seen, 
A  perfect  Church,  resplendent  in  the  sheen 
Of  risen  Righteousness,  whose  arm  once  more 
Puts  forth  in  power  to  rescue  and  restore. 
Gray  grows  to  crimson,  crimson  melts  to  gold, 
And  dawns  the  day  by  starry  night  foretold, 
Whose  lamps  prophetic  pale  their  silvery  rays, 
Lost  in  the  golden  light  of  latter  days, 
Drowned  in  the  dispensation  of  the  end, 
Where  dispensations  with  their  ocean  blend, 
And  time's  sad  rivers  cease  their  mighty  moan 
In  sobbing  requiem  o'er  his  sunken  throne ; 


98  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Till  death  departs,  and  joy,  from  zone  to  zone, 
Welcomes  the  rightful  Heir  unto  His  own. 

Truth  is  eternal !    Thus  the  solemn  voice ; 
'T  was  not  her  birth  made  morning  stars  rejoice ; 
Nay,  but  her  mission  to  a  new-born  sphere, 
Whither,  as  oft,  her  shining  bark  would  steer 
With  spirit  crew,  kin  to  the  kingly  race 
Peopling  the  burning  orbs  of  bourneless  space. 
Truth  is  eternal,  endless  as  its  God, 
Author  and  Framer  of  the  changeless  code, 
Ever-uplifting,  oft-returning  plan, 
Redeeming  from  all  worlds  the  race  of  man. 

Life-saving  line  far  flung  from  heaven  to  earth, 
To  rescue  sinking  souls,  and  give  new  birth 
Unto  the  fallen,  faithful,  penitent, 
Who  else  must  bide  hi  hopeless  banishment, 
Beyond  the  visage  and  the  voice  of  God, 
Did  ne'er  such  gracious  sunlight  gild  the  sod, 
Reaching  with  ray  divine  the  dark  doom  o'er, 
Closing  its  cruel  jaws  f orevermore ; 
Love  dying  for  belief  and  unbelief, 
Gleaning  life's  harvest  to  the  latest  sheaf. 

A  God  whose  glory  is  intelligence, 
A  God  whose  knowledge  gives  omnipotence, 
Who  makes,  maintains,  and  gladly  glorifies, 
Bending  to  lift  the  lowliest  to  the  skies, 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite  99 

By  triple  lever,  by  the  mystic  birth, 

By  three  in  heaven,  the  typed  of  three  on  earth : 

Water,  that  signifies  obedience, 

That  follows  faith  and  perfect  penitence ; 

Spirit,  whereby  the  flesh  is  justified, 

And  blood,  whereby  the  soul  is  sanctified. 

Nor  lifts  by  these  alone,  but  by  each  word, 

The  lofty  mandate  of  the  living  Lord, 

Spirit  'mid  spirits,  most  intelligent, 

Wherefore  their  sovereign  Sire  benevolent, 

Whose  principles,  essential  in  themselves, 

Omnific  wisdom  welcomes  to  its  shelves, 

And  institutes  the  law  whereby  the  rest 

Press  on  and  on  till  all  things  are  possessed. 

Intelligence,  eterne  and  uncreate, 
Though  glory-gotten  in  the  spirit  state, 
Where  all  creations  see  maturity 
Ere  launched  the  soul  upon  a  mortal  sea, 
To  prove  by  agency  the  wrong,  the  right, 
And  walk  by  faith,  as  erst  it  walked  by  sight; 
As  free  to  sound  the  gulf,  as  soar  the  height, 
None  sinking  save  by  sin,  denying  Light. 

Second  estate  now  interlinked  with  first, 

For  godliness  where  spirit  life  was  nursed, 

And  Satan's  rebel  host,  heaven's  third,  were  sent 

To  unentabernacled  banishment, 

Tempters,  beguilers,  triers  of  the  true, 


ioo  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Who  here  reap  greater  gain,  or  sadly  rue 
The  loss  of  all,  surrendering  to  him, 
Who  once  was  morn,  but  now  as  evening  dim, 
Where  many,  wrecked,  to  awful  depths  go  down, 
While  few  return  to  wear  the  waiting  crown, 
Reigning  where  others  serve. 

Each  woe,  each  bliss, 
In  after  worlds,  the  yield  of  life  in  this. 
Time  a  probation;  earth,  through  time,  a  school, 
Where  justice  reigns,  though  oft  the  unjust  rule. 
Pain,  trouble,  toil,  preceptors  of  the  soul; 
Death  but  the  doorway  leading  to  life's  goal- 
life's  fount,  where  earth  an  infant  spirit  sprang, 
Life's  dawn,  where  early  stars  in  chorus  sang, 
Ignoring  pending  sorrow,  parent  pang 
Of  after  joy  o'er  which  their  triumph  rang. 

Man  a  divinity  in  embryo, 

Who,  ere  he  reign  above,  must  serve  below; 

His  spirit  in  earth  element  baptize; 

For  birth,  as  death,  a  baptism  to  the  wise. 

The  gulf  that  parts  the  lower  from  the  higher 

Bridged  by  development  of  son  to  Sire, 

Of  daughter  unto  Mother's  high  estate ; 

For  e'en  as  man's,  the  woman's  future  fate. 

As  sun,  or  moon,  or  varying  star,  appears 
Each  heir  of  glory  in  those  endless  spheres, 
God's  grace  condoning  life's  unpaid  arrears. 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite  101 

Sun-like  the  souls  that  live  celestial  laws, 
And  moon-like  they  who  at  terrestrial  pause, 
Who  honor  not  the  Saviour  in  the  flesh, 
But  after,  in  the  spirit  realm,  refresh 
Their  fainting,  fettered  lives  at  mercy's  fount, 
And  far  as  merit  buoys  them,  upward  mount ; 
Saved,  glorified,  by  faith  and  penitence, 
Made  valid,  through  vicarious  ordinance, 
For  all  who  Him  believe,  who  Him  obey, 
And  own,  or  there  or  here,  His  sovereign  sway. 
Nor  lost  forever  souls  unsaved  to-day; 
Telestial,  they  who  taste  the  pangs  of  hell, 
And  pay  guilt's  debt  ere  they  in  glory  dwell, 
Twinkling  as  stars  whose  numbers  none  can  tell. 

Justice  and  mercy  each  must  have  its  own, 
Nor  thrust  the  other  from  a  dual  throne ; 
Each  shoal  and  deep  shall  final  fulness  see, 
And  like  clasp  like  through  all  eternity. 

But  who  shall  sound  the  bottomless  despair 
Of  one  condemned  the  second  death  to  share  ? 

If  re-ensnared  in  Satan's  subtle  mesh, 

A  soul  redeemed  its  Saviour  pierce  afresh, 

Spurning  the  Spirit,  scorning  proffered  ruth, 

A  traitor  utterly  to  light  and  truth ; 

Then  flames  perdition's  gulf,  death's  last  abyss, 

The  lake  of  fire,  all  life's  antithesis. 


102  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

E'en  God  were  powerless  to  change  its  plight ; 
For  what  avails  the  burnt-out  lamp  to  light  ? 
Justice  as  well  rest  blame  on  blameless  shelves, 
As  mercy  save  who  will  to  damn  themselves. 

Twofold  is  death,  but  life  hath  threefold  sway; 
What  ne'er  created  was  must  be  alway ; 
The  organized  disorganized  may  be, 
But  not  the  life  that  'dures  undyingly. 
Nothing  bides  nothing;  that  which  is  shall  be; 
Though  form,  not  essence,  change  unceasingly. 
Space,  spirit,  matter,  all  eternal  are ; 
For  death  but  on  creation  wages  war. 
Spirit  to  spirit,  dust  to  dust  returns, 
But  bright  intelligence  forever  burns; 
Though  banished  from  the  presence  of  the  Light, 
Exiled  and  wandering  in  the  outer  night, 
Remembering  past,  and  mourning  present  plight, 
The  end  whereof,  a  mystery  to  man, 
Unsolved  while  bending  'neath  the  mortal  ban, 
None  but  the  doomed  partaker  e'er  shall  scan. 

Man's  inmost  spark,  his  being's  primal  fire, 
As  birthless  and  as  deathless  as  its  Sire, 
No  more  the  maker  of  that  unmade  germ 
Than  man  the  framer  of  the  spirit  form, 
Born  and  begotten  in  the  first  estate, 
God's  creature,  whom  God's  power  can  uncreate. 
Whate'er  beginning  had  may  have  an  end, 
But  life  eternal  doth  itself  defend. 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite  103 

Higher  than  heaven,  deeper  than  hell,  profound, 
His  course  in  whom  no  crookedness  is  found, 
His  path  whose  way  is  one  eternal  round. 

Comes  forth  all  life  at  Resurrection's  call, 
When  soul  immortal  sheds  the  mortal  thrall; 
The  just  first  rising,  who  with  Christ  shall  reign, 
While  sinners  tarry  till  He  sounds  again ; 
Late  issuing,  in  shame  and  self-contempt, 
When  Lucifer,  unbound,  shall  newly  tempt, 
Still  warring  for  a  glory  not  his  own, 
Till  by  the  Arm  almighty  overthrown. 

Spirit  and  body,  blending,  make  the  soul, 

As  halves,  uniting,  form  the  perfect  whole ; 

Symbol  of  wedded  bliss,  celestial  state, 

The  sealing  of  the  sexes,  mate  to  mate, 

That  heirs  with  Christ  may  reign  as  queens  and  kings 

Where  endless  union  endless  increase  brings; 

Where  souls  a  sweet  affinity  shall  find, 

And  restitution's  edict  seal  and  bind 

Eternal  matter  to  eternal  mind ; 

Like  unto  like,  for  night  weds  not  with  day, 

And  Order's  mandate  e'en  the  Gods  obey. 

Where  blest  in  heaven,  though  curst  in  earth  and  hell, 
The  law  that  framed  the  house  of  Israel, 
Light's  lineal  sheath  and  faith's  fraternity, 
The  called  and  chosen  of  eternity; 


104  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Where  lives,  ne'er  ending  lives,  perpetuate 
The  joys,  a  myriad-fold,  of  mortal  state, 
And  bind  with  links  welded  in  lesser  years 
The  love-united  systems  of  the  spheres. 

The  body  as  the  sheath  without  the  sword ; 
No  man  without  the  woman  in  the  Lord ; 
Each  pair  the  Eve  and  Adam  of  some  world, 
Perchance  unborn,  unorbited,  unwhirled. 

From  endless  spirit,  endless  element, 

The  worlds  that  glow  in  glory's  firmament; 

Created  all  and  governed  all  by  law, 

Perfect  they  shine,  or  show  sin's  fatal  flaw, 

Their  Maker's  will  obey  or  disobey, 

And  felons  found,  a  felon's  debt  must  pay; 

While  wiser  orbs,  obedient  in  time's  school, 

Through  all  set  terms,  here  learn  to  shine  and  rule, 

The  lords  of  light,  supernal  and  supreme, 

E'en  as  great  Kolob  'mid  the  kokaubeam. 

Earth  a  celestial  law  hath  magnified, 
And  by  that  law  shall  she  be  sanctified, 
And  by  the  same  shall  she  be  glorified ; 
Shining  forever  as  a  sea  of  glass, 
A  globe  of  fire;  flame's  ordeal  doomed  to  pass 
To  perfect  bliss.     She  fell  that  this  might  be,— 
Fell,  e'en  as  man,  to  win  like  destiny; 
Fell  but  to  rise,  by  water  once  baptized, 
And  now  by  fire  transformed,  celestialized, 


The  Arcana  of  the  Infinite  105 

Rising  resplendent,  God-crowned,  glory-plumed, 

'Mid  everlasting  burnings  unconsumed ; 

Celestial  seer-stone,  making  manifest 

All  things  below  to  souls  upon  her  breast, 

By  whom  the  white  stone — new  name,  keyword  blest, — 

Revealing  all  above  them,  is  possessed ; 

Chosen,  omniscient,  children  of  the  Sun, 

Offspring  of  Adam,  Michael,  Ancient  One, 

Who  comes  anon  his  fiery  throne  to  rear, 

His  subjects  summoning  from  far  and  near. 

Ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  bow  the  knee, 

And  monarch  hail  him  through  eternity. 

For  so  are  governed  all  those  worlds  of  fire, 

That  chorus  in  a  universal  choir 

The  glory  of  the  great  Omnipotent, 

Whose  power  hath  framed  through  infinite  extent 

The  splendors  of  the  flashing  firmament; 

Sire  of  the  universe,  and  King  of  Kings 

O'er  countless  realms;  each  dusty  dot  that  springs 

To  blazing  being,  empire  of  a  God, 

Who  equals  Him,  yet  owns  His  sovereign  rod, 

The  central  sceptre  of  Omnipotence, 

The  God  of  Gods,  supreme  Magnificence, 

Keystone  and  Crown  of  royal  Trinity, 

That  reigneth  in  the  midst  eternally. 

There  souls  above  who  once  below  all  things 
All  things  inherit,  and  are  priests  and  kings, 


io6  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Pillars  immovable,  princes  unto  God, 
No  more  outgoing,  firm  in  His  abode, 
Where  past  and  future  present  are  alway, 
And  years  a  thousand  even  as  a  day. 

0  message  marvellous  to  eyes  and  ears! 
Voices  and  visions  of  the  mystic  spheres ! 
Voices  of  noonday,  visions  of  the  night, 
Whisperings  of  angels  and  their  presence  bright ! 
Voice  of  the  Architect  of  life's  vast  plan, 
Speaking  as  God  to  God,  as  man  to  man ! 

Broken  the  fountains  of  the  upper  deep ; 

Opened  the  sepulchres  where  ages  sleep ; 

The  past,  the  future,  now  the  present  leaven ; 

With  truth  from  earth  blends  righteousness  from  heaven ; 

Welding  the  parted  links  of  being's  chain, 

Old  making  new,  the  dead  alive  again. 


Canto  VIII 
The  Lifted  Ensign 


107 


The  Lifted  Ensign 


RMED  now  with  knowledge,  panoplied  with  power, 
With  two-edged  sword  of  God's  authority; — 
Girded  by  heavenly  hands  on  shepherds  twain, 


The  first  and  second  of  a  future  flock, 
Transcribers  of  the  buried  Book  of  Gold, 
Whose  mystic  page,  unsealed  by  gift  divine, 
Save  part  withheld  of  mightier  mystery, 
Now  challenges  the  wise  and  wondering  world ; — 
Armed  and  equipt,  with  staff  and  stone  in  sling, 
Strong  in  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel, 
The  dauntless  David  of  a  latter  day 
Fares  forth  to  meet  the  giant  of  Untruth. 

Thenceforth  a  warrior  and  a  wanderer; 
A  victor  hated  for  his  victories ; 
Targe  for  the  javelin  of  jealousy; 
Hunted  and  hounded  to  the  wilderness; 
Outlawed  by  all,— all  save  a  loyal  few, 
The  patient  sharers  of  his  painful  lot, 
A  living  and  a  dying  martyrdom ; 
Comrades  divine,  in  mortal  pilgrimage, 
Recalled  with  him,  their  earthly  errand  o'er, 
To  grace  the  court  of  high  Jerusalem, 
The  royal  pillars  of  a  kingly  throne. 

109 


i  io  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

All  throneless  here,  though  very  priest  and  king, 
Shunned,  hated  by  the  Christian  pharisee, 
Victim  of  vengeful  pulpit,  pandering  press, 
Of  paltering  policy  and  friendship  false. 

Thought's  matchless  monarch,  exile  among  men, 
A  wanderer  in  a  solitary  way; 
Pariah  of  prejudice  and  unbelief, 
Whose  lowering  features  fiercely  on  him  frowned ; 
God's  prisoner  and  truth's,  that  maketh  free, 
Albeit  the  body,  pen,  tongue,  pine  in  chains, 
Consigned  to  silence,  captive  unto  light, 
And  crucified  betwixt  ideal  and  real. 


'Twixt  promise  and  fulfillment,  typed  of  yore, 
When  time  was  young,  though  old  iniquity, 
Outcast  of  realms  redeemed,  on  earth  was  rife, 
And  self-enchained  a  sordid  world  lay  prone 
At  feet  of  Lucifer.     And  demons  laughed, 
And  hell  rejoiced,  and  all  that  ribald  host 
Did  dance  and  clap  hand  in  derisive  joy; 
While  God  and  angels  wept,  their  pitying  tears 
Whitening  the  spectral  mountains  cold  and  lone, 
Wakening  with  virile  springs  a  spirit  waste. 

There  Enoch's  sainted  commonweal  arose, 
Haven  divine,  hill  of  the  sanctified, 
Oasis-like  'mid  burning  sands  of  sin. 


The  Lifted  Ensign  m 

God's  people,  pure  in  heart  and  one  in  all; 
No  poor  among  them ;  pride  and  greed  unknown ; 
Saved  by  the  tidings  once  to  Adam  taught, 
And  now,  for  first  of  many  times,  retold. 

Self's  chain  was  sundered ;  devils  glared  aghast, 
And  gnashed  with  disappointed  rage  their  teeth, 
Trembling  hi  terror  lest  perdition's  maw 
Engulf  ere  yet  't  was  time ;  then  gathering  power, 
As  if  for  Armageddon's  conflict  dire, 
When  triumphs  Michael  o'er  the  foe  unchained, 
Hell's  molten  belch  of  burning  hatred  hurled 
Upon  those  hapless  sons  of  earth  who  scorned 
The  refuge  of  the  righteous;  her  blest  towers, 
Far-beaming  with  terrestrial  radiance, — 
The  promise  fair  of  full  celestial  change, — 
Bidding  the  vile  beware,  nor  venture  near 
The  awful  mountain  of  God's  holiness. 

Waxed  foul  the  world  hi  wickedness,  piled  high 
A  hideous  monument  of  shame  and  crime, 
Which,  toppling  with  its  own  weight,  crashing  fell, 
Whelming  in  ruin  the  guilty  race  of  man ; 
Whose  spirits,  as  fierce  seas  their  dust  devoured, 
By  fiercer  fiends  to  dungeon  deeps  were  driven ; 
Nor  thence  redeemed  till  He  who  died  for  all 
Soared  from  the  Cross  to  set  the  captive  free. 
The  while,  on  fearless  wings  of  purity, 
Cleaving,  as  bird  or  ransomed  soul,  the  air, 


ii2  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Zion  rose  radiant  to  eternal  rest; — 

Envied  of  Babel,  climbing  robber- wise; — 

Bride  of  the  Highest,  midway  hovering, 

Till  folded  in  the  bosom  of  the  Gods, 

Where  Zions  from  unnumbered  worlds  have  fled. 

Type  temporal  of  spirit  antitype, 

A  future  moral  height  foreshadowing; 

Symbol  of  exaltations  without  end. 

Foreseen  the  fatal  deluge.     Ere  the  doom 
Of  all  save  faithful  Noah  and  his  seven, — 
Tri-branching  tree  of  race  regenerate, 
Yielding  anew  life's  fruit  and  foliage, — 
Glimpsing  with  prescient  gaze  the  pending  woe, 
Earth  mourned  as  Rachel,  Rizpah,  o'er  the  slain, 
The  slain  of  men  unborn  who  yet  must  die, 
Degenerate  in  the  days  that  were  to  be. 

Then  Enoch  wept  and  sued  in  sympathy, 
And  God  gave  answer  thus : 

"  Earth  yet  shall  rest, 
And  sanctified,  shall  see  her  Saviour  reign ; 
Sovereign  of  worlds,  His  realms  as  ocean  sands, 
And  each,  in  turn,  made  glad  and  glorified. 
But  it  shall  be  within  the  latter  days, 
The  days  of  vengeance  and  of  wickedness, 
When  men  the  Sole-begotten  crucify, 


The  Lifted  Ensign  113 

And  He  shall  go  again  to  judge  the  world ; 
When,  ere  destruction,  truth  and  righteousness, 
Gathering  the  pure  in  heart  unto  a  place, 
A  holy  place  my  people  shall  prepare, 
There  to  await  my  coming,  mine  and  thine. 
Zion  above,  from  all  creations  past, 
Shall  meet  and  blend  with  Zion  from  below, 
And  thenceforth  there  my  tabernacle  be. 

"  Yea,  as  I  live,  so  will  I  forth  again, 
My  oath  to  thee,  my  covenant  to  fulfill; 
And  earth  shall  garb  in  glory  of  her  God, 
And  Noah's  righteous  seed  in  me  rejoice." 


On  twain  of  ocean-parted  hemispheres, 
Saw  noon  of  time  a  twofold  type  of  peace, 
Foretaste  and  pledge  of  high  Millennial  rest, 
An  earnest  of  the  commonweal  to  come. 
But  no  fulfillment  of  the  promise  old, 
No  ripe  fruition  of  the  ancient  oath 
To  Enoch  sworn,  through  Moses  re-affirmed, 
By  Ephraim's  prophet  made  to  live  again. 

Promise  now  sought  fulfillment, — it  was  time; 
For  weary  Earth  lay  groaning  'neath  her  load. 
"  Unclean,  unclean,"  her  cry,  as  leprous  Sin 
With  foul  intent  clasped  close  her  shrinking  form, 
And  baned  with  foetid  breathing  all  her  soul. 


ii4  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Long  she  had  mourned  and  wept  o'er  life's  decay; 
Her  waning  strength,  from  age  and  weariness 
A  prey  to  fell  corruption's  baneful  blight, 
Bringing,  in  lieu  of  giants,  pigmies  forth, 
To  fall  untimely  on  her  withered  breast. 
Dwindling  and  dwarfed  in  all  save  wickedness, 
And  knowledge,  oft  made  pander  unto  ill, 
With  learning  gorged,  for  wisdom  famishing, 
Man  both  a  glutton  and  a  starveling  seemed. 

For  Self,  the  sordid,  sat  once  more  enthroned, 
Binding  in  servile  chains  a  universe, 
Where  mightily  men  strove  for  place  and  fame, 
Greedy  for  power  as  gluttonous  for  gold. 

And  who  sought  neighbor's  weal,  save  kith  and  kin 
Or  petted  friendling  pressed  a  favored  claim  ? 

Genius  at  oars,  and  dullards  at  the  helm, 
Flaunting  their  mediocre  mightiness 
O'er  talent  soaring  still  to  spheres  sublime, 
Spite  humble  birth  or  frown  of  jealous  power. 
The  prancing  war-steed  fastened  to  the  plow, 
The  ass  unto  the  chariot — oft  with  rein 
Curbing  the  mettled  courser's  noble  rage, 
Or  swirling  sounding  lash  his  ears  above, 
And  goading  him  with  needless  cruelty. 

Matter  was  monarch ;  spirit  stood  aloof, 
Unknown,  unseen,  or  spurned  and  thrust  aside 


The  Lifted  Ensign  115 

By  thronging  myriads,  bending  supple  knee 
And  basking  in  the  proud  usurper's  smile. 

Pride  sneered  at  poverty,  if  poor  of  purse, 

But  gave  its  hand  to  beggared  intellect, 

To  bankrupt  soul,  and  greeted  them  as  peers. 

Merit,  if  lowly  pillowing  his  head, 

A  prince  in  heart  and  mind,  a  pauper  deemed. 

And  many,  stung  by  adder  glance  of  scorn, 

Victims  of  pique,  or  prey  to  vanity, 

Shunning  a  life  of  noble  toil  and  care, 

To  Hymen  and  to  Mammon  sold  themselves, 

Offering  a  lawless  fire  at  passion's  shrine, 

Or  staining  hands  and  heart  with  sabler  sins. 

Shameful  the  serfdom  of  the  earth-bound  soul, 

Cankered  and  crusted  o'er  with  avarice, 

Dupe,  dreaming  shadow  real  and  substance  show. 

Throve  policy  and  finance,  flourished  far, 
Where  trickery  was  wisdom,  trade  supreme, 
Where  gold  was  god,  where  dust  was  deified, 
And  principle,  than  party,  less  was  prized. 

Religion  dead,  and  poesy  so  deemed, 
Because  unwedded  to  a  carnal  age, 
Unprostituted  to  its  paltrier  aims, 
Or  hid  beneath  vast  verbal  rubbish  heaps, 
The  dust  and  debris  of  its  former  fires. 


n6  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Science,  when  sordid,  or  subservient 

To  worldly  ends,  to  aims  material, 

Was  pedestaled  and  robed  in  honors  rare ; 

While  art  fell  fainting  at  the  patron's  door, 

Craving  the  crumbs,  remains  of  rich  men's  feasts. 

Music,  the  drama,  all  art,  still  divine, 

Though  oft  to  ends  ignoble  basely  bent; 

In  atmospheres  miasmic,  upaslike, 

To  folly  pandering  and  to  lechery; 

Or  using  gifts,  God-lent  for  good  of  all, 

Gain's  maw  to  glut,  fame's  lust  to  gratify. 

And  thou,  where  thou,  0  sage  philosophy, 
Heir  to  a  hundred  shadows  of  thy  name ! 
Where  thy  spent  waves  on  speculation's  strand  ? 
Still  striving,  finite  for  the  infinite; 
Man  groping  for  the  mystery  of  God ; 
A  river  that  would  fain  engulf  the  sea. 

Religion  dead,  but  bigotry  alive, 

And  ne'er  more  active  upon  earth  than  now, 

When  sect  'gainst  sect  in  battle  order  stood, 

And  schisms  and  dissensions  multiplied. 

Religious,  irreligious,  bigotry, 

Each  counted  victims  by  the  hecatomb. 

Those  worshipped  Nothing,  naming  it  a  God ; 

These  God  denied,  deeming  themselves  divine. 


The  Lifted  Ensign  117 

Fanatics  in  the  state  as  in  the  church, 

Their  prejudices  palmed  for  principle, 

Vain  vagaries  and  dreams  for  doctrine  sound. 

And  woe  to  him  who  lisped  of  liberty, 

Or  thought  aloud  one  thought  unthought  before ! 

Freedom  to  think  and  breathe— God-granted  boons 

Alike  to  savage,  serf  and  citizen — 

Was  all  that  freedom  signified  to  some, 

Who,  as  they  doled  a  gift  already  given, 

Boasted  themselves  magnanimous  and  wise. 

Freedom  to  speak  and  act,  as  conscience  bade, 

As  God  commanded,  crushed  by  violence, 

E'en  where  men  vaunted  most  of  liberty. 

And  peace  was  yet  a  dream  unrealized ; 

For  war  still  sowed  and  reaped  his  harvests  red ; 

And  Christian  guns  were  mightiest  and  slew  most. 

Nor  yet  stood  toil  'gainst  capital  arrayed, 

The  starving  masses  'gainst  the  Midases, 

As  erst  arose,  'gainst  moss-grown  old  regimes, 

The  trampled  Terror,  scrawling  with  fierce  hand 

On  history's  flaming  scroll  his  red  revenge, 

With  that  keen-pointed  pen,  the  guillotine; 

Nor  yet  faced  frowning  mass  contemning  class, 

Jeering,  oblivious  of  the  lurking  doom, 

The  Lemnian  lame,  still  forging  in  swift  might, 

The  fire-winged  thunders  of  the  future  storm. 


u8  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

But  murderous  crafts  and  oath-bound  anarchies, 
With  secret  deed  of  darkness,  had  begun 
To  sap  the  life  of  human  government, 
And  plot  against  the  safety  of  mankind ; 
While  greeds  and  lusts  and  passions  manifold, 
Preying  on  frailty  and  on  innocence, 
Ran  riot  'mid  the  fairest,  brightest,  best. 

'T  was  time — full  time — the  far-seen  ensign  waved, 

Hailing  the  morn  on  heights  of  holiness, 

Gathering  the  wide-strewn  strength  of  Abraham, 

Proclaiming  peace  and  freedom  to  the  world. 

'T  was  time  disorder  fled,  time  justice  reigned, 

Time  substance  past  its  shadow  should  be  prized ; 

Time  rightfully  were  held  the  kingdom's  keys, 

Usurping  Mammon  thrust  from  Merit's  throne. 

Full  time  the  sacred  Sceptre  here  returned, 

By  poesy  extolled,  by  art  adorned, — 

Religion,  science,  reason,  reconciled; 

Time  God  in  man,  His  imaged  self,  were  seen, 

With  life's  true  aim  and  purpose  manifest ; 

Time  feeble  earth  her  panacea  found, 

Time  health  gave  life  its  old  longevity; 

Time  pride  should  bend,  time  lust  to  love  should  yield, 

Time  human  will  were  one  with  will  of  heaven : 

'T  was  time  an  Enoch  came,  a  Zion  rose. 

Hark!  the  Fifth  Angel.     Look!  the  signal  looms. 
The  fateful  Stone  upon  the  Image  rolls. 


The  Lifted  Ensign  119 

"  On  you,  my  fellow  servants,  I  confer 

The  priestly  power  of  Aaron,  with  the  keys 

Of  angel  ministries,  of  penitence, 

Of  water-birth  that  washes  free  from  sin. 

And  greater  things  than  these  shall  yet  be  given —     . 

The  holier  powers  of  high  Melchisedek, 

Holding  the  keys  of  heavenly  mysteries, 

With  Gospel  gifts  and  graces  Spirit-born." 

And  on  each  head  was  laid  an  angel  hand ; 
Time  making  good  the  promise  plighted  there ; 
Welding  another  link  in  wonder's  chain, 
Writing  new  chapters  of  a  story  strange, 
God's  dealings  with  to-day — Light's  mystery, 
Confounding  learning's  wisdom,  folly 's  wise. 

And  who  is  She  that  looketh  forth  sublime, 
Robed  in  the  rising  Sun  and  crescent  Moon ; 
Crowned  with  the  stars,  and  as  innumerable  ? 
A  soul  upsoaring  as  from  sepulture, 
Body  and  spirit  pure  and  free  from  stain, 
As  gold  and  silver  tried  by  seven-timed  fire ; 
Fairer  than  eve,  mightier  than  bursting  morn, 
As  noonday  majesty  magnificent. 

Earth,  greet  thy  Queen,  the  kingdom  of  the  King ! 
And  Babel,  too,  the  wedded  Wife  behold, 
Whose  reign  thou  wouldst  usurp,  unrighteous  one ! 
Whose  place  wouldst  fill  and  fain  possess  her  power ; 


I2o  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Summoned  from  out  the  silent  Wilderness, 
Arisen  from  the  grave  of  centuries, 
No  more  to  be  despoiled  or  trodden  down; 
A  symbol  of  exalted  sanctity, 
The  sum  of  offerings  acceptable, — 
The  consecration  of  the  contrite  heart; 
Of  ancient  types  the  modern  complement, 
Chief  splendor  of  time's  sparkling  firmament, 
Whose  silver  stars  bespoke  this  sun  of  gold. 

Immanuers  spouse,  the  glorious  Bride  of  Christ, 
Arrayed  once  more  in  garments  beautiful, 
Adorned  and  ready,  waiting  for  her  Lord ! 

Time,  mighty  daughter  of  eternity, 
Mother  of  ages  and  of  aeons  past ! 
Assemble  now  thy  children  at  thy  side, 
And  ere  thou  diest  teach  them  to  be  one ; 
Link  to  its  link  rebind  the  broken  chain 
Of  dispensations,  glories,  keys  and  powers, 
From  Adam's  fall  unto  Messiah's  reign ; 
A  thousand  years  of  rest,  a  day  with  God, 
While  Shiloh  reigns  and  Kolob  once  revolves ! 

But  when  did  darkness  comprehend  the  day  ? 
When  welcomed  pleasure  thorn-crowned  sacrifice, 
Whose  higher,  holier  joys  than  self  can  know, 
As  dust  and  ashes  to  the  sensual  soul  ? 


The  Lifted  Ensign  121 

Once  more  the  ancient  tidings  among  men ! 
Once  more  the  sign  and  seal  of  heavenly  power! 
Renewal  of  an  endless  covenant ! 
Elias,  restitution,  unity! 

Jewels  to  swine,  that  turning  rent  the  hand, 
And  fain  'neath  foot  had  torn  and  trampled  all. 
Such  was  Truth's  fate,  alas !  in  modern  time, 
'Mid  Christian  men ;  but  not  her  final  fate. 

For  who  can  stay  the  sunlike  march  of  Truth  ? 
Who  dim  with  bloody  hand  her  beam  divine  ? 
First  shall  he  halt  the  progress  of  the  stars — 
The  bright  procession  of  the  Infinite ; 
Blot  out  the  day-beam,  dull  the  scythe  of  time, 
Shear  morning's  wings,  roll  back  eternal  night, 
Or  shake  the  moveless  throne  of  destiny. 

There  floats  an  ensign  never  shall  be  furled, 
Flashes  a  falchion  evermore  must  flame, 
Till  earth-born  realms  in  one  wide  empire  rolled, 
With  conquering  Christ  as  life  and  light  of  all. 


OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY 


Canto  IX 

Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the 
Philistine 


123 


Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine 


ESTWARD,  0  Israel,  westward  wing  thy  flight! 

Westward,  speed  westward,  Angel  of  the  Light! 

Westward,  still  westward,  till  the  morn  shall  burn 
In  high  meridian  glory;  till  shall  turn 
Fate's  restless  tide,  re-rolling  o'er  the  East, 
Spoiling  the  spoiler,  spreading  freedom's  feast, 
Foiling  dark  anarchy,  thy  fellest  foe, 
Land,  chosen  land,  stunned,  staggering  'neath  its  blow! 
Rallying  the  loyal  in  a  common  cause, 
Rending  the  Eagle  from  the  Bear's  red  claws, 
Hurling  invasion  backward  o'er  the  isles, 
Building  anew  upon  the  olden  piles 
Beginnings  of  the  crowning  Commonhood, 
A  modern  Zion  where  the  ancient  stood. 

Westward,  flow  westward,  surging  human  tide, 
Back  to  the  fountain  where  life's  streams  divide; 
To  Adam's  land,  the  far  Atlantean  shore, 
Where  last  is  first,  and  old  is  new  once  more, 
And  nations  rise  where  nations  sunk  before. 

Flames  Joseph's  signal  from  the  solemn  height 
Where  set  his  ancient  day  in  deepest  night; 
His  feet  retracing  now  the  fiery  path 
Where  erst  he  fled,  a  fugitive  from  wrath; 

125 


126  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Foredoomed  to  flee  till  ebbs  that  westward  flow; 
Bearing  from  Japheth  bitter  curse  and  blow, 
While  warding  from  him  still  the  woeful  fate 
Of  all  that  war  'gainst  Jacob,  all  that  hate 
The  God  of  Joseph  and  the  just  decree 
That  builds  him  here  a  boundless  destiny. 

But  war,  that  bringeth  woe  and  breedeth  pain, 

No  less  than  peace  betimes  hath  right  to  reign. 

What  strife,  what  tempest,  wreaks  its  wrath  in  vain  ? 

Prosperity  and  persecution  blend, 

As  sun  and  storm,  faith's  branch  with  fruit  to  bend. 

Twain  are  the  shoulders  of  the  Philistine, 

That  Israel  onward  bear,  as  breeze  and  brine 

The  tempest-driven  bark  that  safe  o'er  sea 

Carries  calm  Caesar  and  his  destiny. 

Progression  fails  with  opposition's  flight, 

And  darkness  is  but  handmaid  unto  light. 

Though  reaps  the  whirlwind  where  the  wind  hath  sown 
The  fourfold  harvest  of  each  tear  and  groan. 

Westward,  burn  westward,  morn  divinely  bright ! 
Eternal  morn  of  Joseph's,  Judah's,  might ! 
But  stand  thou  still  on  Zion,  glorious  Light ! 
For  there  must  dawn  the  day  that  knows  no  night. 


The  eaglet's  nest  is  empty;  void  the  lair 

Of  the  young  lion.    Where,  O  Ephraim,  where  ? 


Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine      127 

Behold  him  while  he  sits  amid  green  hills, 
Laving  a  wayworn  strength  where  freshening  rills 
Mingle  with  waves  that  wash  a  storied  strand, 
Farmed,  forest-fringed,  a  fair  and  favored  land ! 

Realm  of  a  rising  glory — this  thy  name ! 

The  cradle  of  the  Kingdom — this  thy  fame ! 

Where  broke  the  morn,  though  flecked  with  fire  and  blood, 

The  morn  benign  of  human  brotherhood; 

Foredestined  to  a  sad  and  swift  eclipse, 

Hampered  by  self ,  harried  by  hounds  and  whips 

Of  persecution,  whose  infuriate  maw, 

Usurping  oft  the  form  and  force  of  law,— 

To  lawless  hands  a  far  too  ready  rod, — 

Had  fain  engulfed  the  growing  work  of  God. 

O  sunny  land,  left  sad  and  desolate ! 
0  wounded  bird,  that  mourns  a  driven  mate ! 
The  plumage  from  thy  bleeding  body  torn, 
And  scattered  far  o'er  realms  remote,  forlorn ! 

Yet  ere  the  storm  could  burst  was  visioned  there, 

While  bathed  in  holy  light  the  House  of  Prayer, 

A  promise,  a  fulfillment,  long  foretold, 

The  Star  of  Silver  and  the  Sun  of  Gold; 

Elias  and  Messias  there  behold, 

With  angel  keepers  of  the  ancient  keys 

Of  gathering  and  of  sealing  mysteries ! 

Haloed  with  fire,  while  burns  the  heavenly  glow, 

Upon  the  Prophet  they  their  powers  bestow. 


128  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Speed  now  swift  messengers  his  face  before, 

To  blaze  his  sacred  name  on  every  shore ; 

An  hallowed  host,  commissioned  from  the  skies, 

The  slumbering  nations  to  evangelize. 

Day  beams  from  glory's  height  with  kindling  glance ; 

Unlettered  light  'gainst  learned  ignorance ; 

Truth's  warning  tongue  proclaims  the  gauntlet  hurled, 

And  Gospel  thunder  shakes  the  listless  world. 


Already,  to  illume  dark  Laman's  bands, 
Have  virile  footprints  prest  those  virgin  lands, 
Where  westering  empire,  in  creative  might, 
Rolls  a  new  world  upon  the  wondering  sight ; 
Where  flower-starred  prairies,  in  the  far  extent, 
Kiss  with  soft  lips  the  bending  firmament, 
While  sea-like  rivers,  solitary,  lone, 
Pour  their  proud  waters  toward  the  burning  zone. 

Land  of  all  lands  the  rarest,  where  shall  rise, — 
Mirrored  magnificence  of  earth  and  skies, 
Each  gate  a  pearl,  each  pinnacle  a  gem,— 
The  jasper  walls  of  New  Jerusalem ; 
The  golden  glory  of  the  hemispheres, 
Jehovah's  throne  through  all  the  Thousand  Years. 
Land  where  an  Adam  fell,  an  Enoch  rose, 
Where  time  began  and  history  shall  close. 

Whereto  and  whence,  by  brand  and  fagot  driven, 
His  fault  to  man,  his  fealty  to  heaven, 


Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine      129 

With  here  and  there,  perchance,  an  idle  word, 

Vainglorious  zeal,  or  vengeful,  might  afford, 

Flies  Ephraim,  scorched  and  scourged,  from  Japheth's  wrath, 

Pushed  on  and  on  o'er  suffering's  thorny  path, 

Whipt,  plundered,  wounded,  bleeding,  to  the  goal 

Where  mortal  part  becomes  immortal  whole. 

Maddened  by  hate,  a  frenzied  host  decrees — 
And  blood  alone  its  passion  will  appease— 
A  menace  hi  that  migrant  fold's  increase, 
A  menace  to  its  power,  its  pride,  its  peace. 
Misled  by  fear  grotesque,  that  hears  and  sees 
Peril  hi  purling  stream,  in  whispering  breeze, 
Telling  of  wondrous  thrift,  of  mystic  power, 
Of  spirit  gifts — the  Bride's  becoming  dower; 
Of  freedom's  Gospel,  law  of  liberty, 
Sounding  afar  the  knell  of  slavery ; 
With  feigned  or  real  suspicion  of  intent 
That  could  but  lurk  hi  minds  by  malice  bent, 
And  ne'er  found  lodgment  in  the  dreams  of  those 
Now  cruelly  beset  by  whelming  foes, 
Force  joins  with  fraud,  impelled  by  lust  of  crime, 
'Gainst  merit  fallen  on  an  evil  time. 

'T  was  so  of  old,  when  Egypt's  despot  frowned 
On  Jacob's  increase, — growth  from  fertile  ground; 
And  when  fell  Herod,  fain  to  slay  life's  Lord, 
Pierced  Rachel's  bosom  with  unpitying  sword. 
A  second  Pharaoh  now  o'er  Israel  see ! 


130  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

A  Herod  in  the  home  of  Liberty! 

See  law-crowned  lawlessness,  its  crime  complete, 

Plundering  defenceless  cities  at  its  feet ! 

Friendless,  unsheltered,  forth  the  exiles  go, 
Lit  by  their  burning  homes  athwart  the  snow, 
Where  crimson  footprints  stamp  the  frozen  path, 
Till  icy  billows  bar  them  from  the  wrath 
Of  ruthless  fiends,  whose  fellows,  masked  as  men, 
Where  sons  of  light  lie  down  in  darksome  den, 
Gloat  while  they  guard,  and  flout  with  jest  obscene, 
The  helpless  victims  of  that  heartless  scene ; 
Exulting  foully,  boastingly,  the  while, 
Of  virgins  't  was  their  pleasure  to  defile ; 
O'er  murdered  age,  o'er  slaughtered  infancy, 
O'er  deeds  none  else  than  devils  would  decree. 

Till  flames  aloft,  as  Samuel  from  the  sod, 

A  mighty  one,  at  whose  right  hand  is  God, 

Chained,  weaponless,  but  wielding  as  a  rod 

The  lightning's  tongue,  to  scorch  his  cowering  foes, 

And  scourge  them  to  the  kennels  whence  they  rose. 

Ne'er  known  such  power,  such  Godlike  faith  and  will, 

Since  Christ  bade  tempest  sleep  and  waves  be  still. 

And  wheresoe'er  he  wends  is  hope  renewed, 
Demons  unhoused,  disease  and  death  subdued. 


Where  Sire  of  Waters  sweeps  o'er  silvery  sands, 
Prest  by  the  pilgrim  feet  of  many  lands, 


Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine      131 

Aloft,  alone,  a  sacred  city  stands; 
Redeemed  erewhile  from  dread  malarial  ill, 
Transformed  by  wonder-working  toil,  until, 
Terrace  on  terrace,  climbing,  climbing  still, 
From  crescent  water-edge  to  templed  hill, 
Behold  yon  fane,  yon  heaven-lit  dome,  arise ! 
Unworldly  link  re-welding  earth  and  skies. 

City,  mother  of  many,  none  more  rare, 

The  blossomed  waste  shall  yield,  now  burnt  and  bare ; 

City,  mother  of  empires,  famed  as  fair, 

Whose  birth  the  solemn  muse  must  yet  declare. 

Comes  now  Elijah's  mightier  mission  forth, 
And  mortal  vows  take  on  immortal  worth, 
Where  kindled  are  hope's  everliving  fires, 
Where  turned  the  mutual  hearts  of  sons  and  sires, 
Where  doors  to  spirit  dungeons  open  swing, 
That  life  unto  the  light  e'en  death  may  bring. 

But  gaze  from  sinking  unto  soaring  sun, 
Where  truth,  beyond  the  wave,  its  way  hath  won 
Past  horrent  hosts  of  Lucifer  that  rose, 
With  wrath  of  man,  the  message  to  oppose. 
Vain  strife !  where  fiends  archangels  would  assail, 
Warring  'gainst  mightiness  that  must  prevail— 
Prevail  to  save  a  periled  ship.    'T  is  done ; 
The  crisis  past  with  Albia  stormed  and  won. 
East  floweth  West;  the  Gathering  hath  begun! 


132  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

And  now,  to  fruitful  lands,  'neath  favoring  skies, 
Befriended  by  the  brave,  the  just,  the  wise, 
Till  truth  too  mighty  for  the  common  ken 
Hath  put  a  sword  betwixt  the  souls  of  men, 
Fares  garnered  Israel's  earliest  offering, 
Of  nations  sown  to  lif e's  last  harvesting ; 
Nations  besprent  with  Abrahamic  blood, 
Which  now  remingles  with  the  parent  flood ; 
Elect  of  faith,  redeemed  of  every  land, 
Where  roving  Ephraim  mixt  with  Japheth's  band. 

By  helping  hand  impelled,  and  hostile  power, 

By  friendly  looks  and  frowns  that  darkly  lower ; 

Philistia's  shoulder  bearing  Israel's  flight, 

That  Japheth,  too,  may  come  to  Zion's  light, 

And  Joseph  be  o'er  all  his  brethren  blest, 

A  saviour  in  his  Egypt  of  the  West ; 

Where  com  and  wine,  Jmid  famine,  comfort  life, 

Where  peace  and  plenty  shame  a  world  at  strife, 

Where  bending  from  the  ice-barred  North  shall  come, 

As  bent  their  stars  in  his,  the  dreamer's  dome, 

Assyria's  long-lost  captives,  wending  home. 

Beginnings  that  have  here  in  beauty  stood, 

Foundations  swept  by  devastating  flood, 

A  little  season  wrecked  and  ruined  lie, 

Till  they  that  build  put  pride  and  passion  by, 

And  taught  by  pain,  through  suffering's  fiercest  fires, 

Part  with  all  lustful,  covetous  desires. 


Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine      133 

When  faith  shall  wear  the  armor  without  flaw, 

When  known  the  union  of  celestial  law, 

Then — nor  till  then — from  God's  approving  eye, 

Twain  lights  shall  fall,  and  myriad  shadows  fly; 

Sword  of  the  Lord  and  blade  of  Gideon, 

Dazzling,  confounding,  driving  on  and  on, 

Till  besomed  as  with  fire  the  fated  strand 

Where,  chastened,  guileless,  glorious,  heart  and  hand, 

Zion,  now  called,  then  chosen,  takes  her  stand, 

The  Queen  and  Priestess  of  the  Promised  Land ; 

A  terror  only  to  her  trembling  foes; 

Ensign  of  peace  and  Eden  of  repose, 

Where  life's  tree  blossoms  and  light's  fountain  flows. 


But  who  can  count  the  cost,  the  painful  price, 

Measure  the  sorrow  and  the  sacrifice, 

Brave  spirits  of  a  more  than  Spartan  race 

Compelled  heroic  heart  and  mind  to  face  ? 

In  vain,  alas !  in  vain,  of  such  to  sing, 

With  trembling  hand  a  tuneless  harp  I  string, 

When  might  of  melody  divinely  rare 

Alone  were  meet  their  merit  to  declare ! 

What  lesser  lay  than  Zion's  own  shall  break 

The  muse's  slumber,  bid  the  world  awake, 

And  glow  o'er  deeds  yet  done  for  conscience'  sake  ? 

Whose  tongue  than  modern  Leah's,  Rachel's,  tell 

The  story  of  a  burden  borne  so  well  ? 


134  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

0  patient  pain,  enduring  source  of  power ! 
Time  but  a  dream ;  eternity  thy  dower. 
Sowest  thou  here  in  sorrow  and  despair, 
Heart  breaking  'neath  the  heaviness  of  care  ? 
All  gladness  shalt  thou  reap, — all  glory  share. 
Where  perfect  love  hath  cast  out  jealous  fear, 
A  diamond  in  thy  diadem  each  tear, 
And  every  sigh  that  rent  thy  suffering  breast 
A  wave  of  rapture  on  the  shores  of  rest. 
My  lot  as  thine,  purest  of  pure  in  heart ! 
Be  mine  the  bitter,  as  the  better  part. 

But  sorrows  else  now  shadow  all  things  there. 
The  voice  of  mourning  drowns  the  voice  of  prayer. 
Shall  grief  the  cold,  pale  brow  with  cypress  strew, 
Dampened  e'en  now  with  death's  prophetic  dew  ? 

While  deepening  darkness  glooms  a  sky  of  lead, 

While  thundrous  threatenings  tone  their  notes  of  dread, 

Looms  to  the  fore  an  archangelic  form, 

A  sunlit  summit  shining  o'er  the  storm; 

A  towering  rock  above  the  rushing  tide 

Of  eager  souls  that  surge  on  every  side 

To  where  life's  water  from  the  fountain  plays ; 

His  word— God's  will— the  guidon  of  their  ways. 

Like  to  the  sun  that  'lumes  with  lingering  rays 

The  multi-varied  hues  of  autumn  woods, 

Or  heaving  ocean's  ever-changing  moods, 

That  pale  yet  placid  countenance  benign, 


Upon  the  Shoulders  of  the  Philistine      135 

O'ershowering  all  with  love,  now  seems  to  shine ; 
With  more  than  earthly  love,  with  light  divine. 

Undaunted  'neath  the  shadow  of  his  doom, 
Calm  as  a  statue,  solemn  as  a  tomb ; 
Heedless  of  self,  while  hoarsely  rumbles  near 
Hate's  fiery  flood ;  that  alien  to  all  fear, 
That  more  than  man,  nor  less  than  Godlike  soul, 
Erect  upon  life's  summit,  at  death's  goal, 
Unlocks  time's  portal,  swings  the  future's  gate, 
And  opes  to  Ephraim's  gaze  his  glorious  fate. 

Hark !  for  he  speaks.    Give  ear,  0  earth,  give  ear 
Unto  the  voice,  the  vision,  of  a  Seer ! 


Canto  X 
The  Parted  Veil 


'37 


The  Parted  Veil 


EACE,  0  my  people !    I  shall  not  be  slain 

While  unfulfilled  my  mission.    Then,  like  Him 
Whom  I  have  served,  link  of  a  living  chain, 
Holding  in  mine  the  hand  of  Elohim, 
Whose  glory  dies  not,  though  all  else  grow  dim, — 
Like  Him  must  I  return.    Would  else  suffice  ? 
Of  weal  to  you,  whose  praise  all  worlds  shall  hymn, 
My  lif e,  my  mortal  life,  may  prove  the  price ; 
If  so,  then  welcome  death!    I  will  the  sacrifice. 

God  with  me  alway;  never  more  than  now; 
And  He  hath  known  me  while  ye  knew  me  not; 
Nor  e'er  can  know  till  at  the  throne  ye  bow 
Where  souls  are  searched  and  unto  judgment  brought. 
Weighed  in  a  balance  that  abates  no  jot 
Of  merit's  meed,  of  retribution  just, 
But  parts  unto  each  heir  his  rightful  lot 
In  glory's  realm;  when  dust  shall  spring  from  dust, 
Spirit  from  paradise,  know  me  ye  shall  and  must. 

Hope  not  till  then  to  have  my  history, 

What  life  hath  scribed  to  scan.    Nor  tongue  nor  pen 

Can  tell  the  tale,  dispel  the  mystery 

139 


\        140  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

That  hides  me  from  the  dim,  dull  gaze  of  men. 
Something  of  what  awaits  the  future's  ken, 
(No  more  can  ye  receive,  or  I  impart) 
Heaven's  will  permits.    See,  now,  what  I  have  seen; 
And  though  it  grieve  yet  shall  it  glad  the  heart 
Bound  unto  me  in  bands  no  human  power  can  part ! 

Affliction  waits  you  here — the  torch,  the  sword, 
The  trampled  field,  the  violated  tomb, 
The  tyranny  of  law  and  lawless  horde, 
The  hand  of  iron  'neath  the  martial  plume. 
For  comes  a  cry  of  myriads :  "  Give  us  room! " 
And  Ephraim  must  fulfill  his  destiny, 
E'en  though  an  exile's  be  his  lonely  doom, 
Forced  by  a  fate  both  harsh  and  kind  to  flee 
Into  a  desert  land  laved  by  a  rock-rimmed  sea. 

What  matter,  if  my  mortal  race  be  run, 
When, — where — I  sleep,  as  babe  on  mother  breast! 
While  ye,  my  people, — lo,  my  setting  sun 
Points  out  your  path! — for  you  no  peace,  no  rest, 
Till  firm  your  weary  feet  upon  the  West, 
Where,  moveless  as  yon  snowy  spine  of  hills, 
Unfettered  as  the  tempest,  unopprest, 
And  sovereign  as  the  sun  that  sends  the  rills 
To  bless  the  vales,  God's  first-bora  fold  His  purpose  fills. 

Affliction  here,  but  friendship  there  and  peace. 
Alas !  for  this,  that  white  should  seek  to  red. 
And  in  a  day  when  wars  and  woe  increase, 


The  Parted  Veil  141 

Till  plain  is  seen  what  prophet  tongues  have  said, 
And  peace  shall  have  no  pillow  for  her  head 
Save  lofty  heights  where  loyal  hosts  abound, 
Brave  sons  of  battling  sires  who  toiled  and  bled, 
That  this  might  evermore  be  freedom's  ground, 
Shall  give  to  you  their  strength  the  final  State  to  found. 

Ere  long  fierce  war  shall  rend  this  nation  wide, 
And  trample  nations  all.     Ere  long  shall  slaves 
'Gainst  masters  rise,  and  anarchy  override, — 
As  flouting  keel  the  futile-foaming  waves,— 
The  powers  that  grind  the  poor  as  trodden  paves. 
Anon  shall  Jacob's  stricken  bands  combine 
To  vex  the  Gentile.    Then  't  is  Ephraim  saves 
Columbia's  soul  from  chaos.    Then  the  line 
Of  Laman,  darkly  doomed,  delightsomely  shall  shine. 

Thus  far  your  Moses  I ;  but  here  must  end, 
This  side  the  Jordan,  as  on  Nebo's  height, 
My  earthly  toil.    To  other  worlds  I  wend. 
But  lo !  there  looms  upon  my  sinking  sight 
A  second  Canaan.    Halt,  thou  failing  light ! 
A  Joshua  cometh.    Him  let  Israel  heed, 
And  loyal  be  unto  that  Council's  right 
On  whom  the  Kingdom  rolls;  for  they  shall  lead 
To  where  the  present's  hand  shall  sow  the  future's  seed. 

All  sacred,  sovereign  powers,  God's  gift  to  me, 

To  gather  the  elect  from  far  and  near, 

His  Church  to  found,  and  turn  redemptive  key 


142  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Whereby  the  dead  that  haunt  the  nether  sphere, 
No  less  than  living,  shall  the  tidings  hear, 
Believe,  repent,  and  aided  burst  the  bands 
That  hold  them  helpless  in  their  dungeons  drear; 
All  keys  by  Heaven  committed  to  my  hands, 
I  unto  twelve  have  given.     Mark  where  their  leader  stands! 

Follow  that  chieftain  chosen  of  the  Lord, 
Nor  be  beguiled  by  faction's  phantasies. 
Three  shall  bear  rule,  but  one  must  voice  the  word 
To  guide  the  whole.     His  Heaven-inspired  decrees 
As  mine,  as  His  who  gave  the  Kingdom's  keys. 
Follow  him  safe  whose  path  'mid  mountains  lies, 
Where  barrenness  shall  blossom,  where  he  sees 
A  mighty  people,  conquering,  colonize 
The  waste  from  whose  dry  bosom  cities, — empires — rise. 

Doubt  not  the  harvest  springing  from  such  seed, 
Nor  dream  of  night  o'erlapping  destined  day ; 
Crooked  shall  straighten  to  the  future  need, 
And  crudeness  unto  culture  shall  give  way. 
For  Light  fares  forth,  and  who  His  step  can  stay  ? 
Firm,  strong,  not  smooth,  yon  temple's  basic  stone, 
Hidden  from  view,  while  rests  the  heavenly  ray 
On  polished  wall,  on  gleaming  spire  and  cone. 
Jacob's,  not  Esau's,  hand  shall  rear  Messiah's  throne. 

Bide  yonder  till  God's  house  grow  great  and  strong, 
Anointed  with  an  unction  from  on  high ; 
Nurtured  in  tribulation ;  prest  along 


The  Parted  Veil 

A  thornful  path,  to  glory's  goal,  now  nigh ; 
By  righteousness  made  terrible,  till  fly 
The  foe  before  as  ashes  in  the  wind, 
As  wintry  flake  'neath  summer's  ardent  eye. 
Then,  Ephra-Judah,  who  thy  strength  shall  bind  ? 
The  crouching  lion  springs,  and  he  the  prey  shall  find. 

And  by  that  power  shall  Zion  be  redeemed,— 
A  might  that  makes  the  tempest,  quells  the  storm,- 
With  marvels,  miracles,  ne'er  done  nor  dreamed 
Since  wonder  oped  her  eyes.    The  world's  alarm 
Shall  surge,  an  angry  sea,  but  fear  nor  harm 
Can  hover  near  the  conquering  host  of  God, 
Led  by  a  Joshua  mightier  still,  whose  arm, 
Mailed  with  the  lightnings  of  Messiah's  rod, 
Rests  not  till  sacred  towers  rise  from  the  sainted  sod. 

The  place  appointed !    Naught  else  is  designed ; 
Naught  else  can  Heaven  accept  at  Ephraim's  hand. 
Plant  stakes  of  Zion,  tight  her  cords  to  bind, 
Where'er  ye  move,  0  fated  pilgrim  band ! 
But  bring  forth  Zion's  self  on  Zion's  land ; 
The  consecrated  soil,  whereon  ye  stood 
With  me,  of  late,  loyal  while  treason  fanned 
The  flame  still  thirsting  for  a  martyr's  blood. 
There  build,  in  time  to  be,  the  Holy  One's  abode. 

Nor  there  alone,  for  all  is  Zion's  land, 
North  unto  south,  east  unto  western  wave. 
Far  as  the  hemisphere's  wide  wings  expand 


144  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

She  reigns  a  sovereign  queen,  ice-helmed,  to  lave 
Her  glowing  hands  in  tropic  tides,  while  brave 
Her  snowy  feet  in  faith  the  southern  sea. 
Aloft  the  radiant  arm  all  realms  to  save, 
And  all  the  righteous  to  that  bosom  flee. 
And  there  be  living  now  who  then  shall  live  and  see. 

While  here  the  glory  of  the  common  good 
Shall  rise,  the  shadowed  of  a  shining  band, 
Sires  of  the  free  and  equal  sisterhood, 
Whose  starry  sceptre  soon  from  strand  to  strand 
Shall  emblemize  the  lot  of  every  land. 
Wherefore,  what  great  Jehovah  here  hath  joined, 
Or  yet  shall  join,  as  He  of  old  hath  planned, 
Let  no  man  seek  to  sunder ;  't  is  designed 
Such  union  shall  endure,  and  spreading,  all  realms  bind. 

Yea,  saith  the  still  small  Voice,  that  whispereth  through 
And  pierceth  all  things,  I  the  Lord  will  send 
A  mighty  one  and  strong,  his  bosom  true 
Welling  with  words,  eternal  words,  to  rend 
Order  from  chaos,  and  man's  cause  befriend. 
And  he  shall  part  my  people's  heritance ; 
While  one,  though  called,  appointed,  and  ordained, 
Who  stays  the  ark,  usurping  footstep  plants, 
Shall  fall  as  falls  the  tree  shivered  by  lightning's  lance. 

I  would  I  now  might  tell  you  who  I  am, 
Might  here  reveal  the  hidden  things  I  know, 
Loose  from  the  thicket  of  my  thoughts  a  lamb, 


The  Parted  Veil  145 

The  Lord's  providing — knowledge  pure  as  snow; 
A  flood  of  heavenly  light  which  then  would  flow 
For  earth's  refreshing.    But  alas !  e'en  ye, 
My  fondest  friends,  would  deem  me  Zion's  foe, 
Shout  "  blasphemy,"  or  "  fallen  prophet "  cry, 
Or  seek  my  life  and  sink  your  souls  to  misery. 

Known  but  the  half  that  in  my  bosom  burns, 
And  bigotry  would  flame  as  ne'er  before ; 
For  truth,  rejected,  friend  to  traitor  turns, 
And  damns  where  fain  't  would  save.     Six  mounting  o'er, 
My  spirit  to  the  seventh  heaven  did  soar, 
And  saw  and  heard — ah,  would  that  I  might  say ! 
Though  memory  but  renewed  a  former  lore, 
What  all  will  learn  when  mists  have  rolled  away, 
When  twinkling,  twilight  faith  to  knowledge  shall  give  way. 

Ere  then  deem  ye  the  wisest  can  be  wise, 
Sojourning  here  within  this  shadowed  scene, 
A  medial  stage,  a  human  compromise, 
The  spirit's  might,  the  body's  weight,  between  ? 
Extremes  of  good  and  evil,  man,  life's  mean, 
Confronts,  contending  each  for  victory. 
Judge  not  till  all  is  heard,  till  all  is  seen. 
Mortals  but  children,  asking  charity. 
Mercy  where  mercy  shown,  harshness  where  cruelty. 

List !  Mine  ye  are,  and  stood  with  me  what  time 
A  starry  host,  celestial  symphony, 
Choraled  the  anthem  seraphic,  sublime, 


146  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

To  the  spelled  ear  of  all  eternity. 
Gave  we  the  voice  that  sent  Humility 
In  place  of  pride,  to  succor  earth  and  save ; 
Fought  we  with  Michael,  made  the  dragon  flee, 
Who  fain  with  force  the  Gospel  path  would  pave, 
Fettering  the  endless  lives  whom  God  full  freedom  gave. 

As  now,  in  lesser  liberty's  abode, 
Incarnate  spirit  of  fell  tyranny 
Would  trample  on  the  type  of  that  great  code, 
Befriending  human  right  where'er  it  be. 
But  hear  me,  Heaven !     Come  lif e,  come  death  to  me, 
Jehovah's  captain,  in  His  name  and  fear, 
I  vow  to  Him  his  people  shall  be  free ! 
Aye,  free  all  men,  as  in  that  former  sphere, 
When  hurled  from  yon  dread  height  the  power  of  Lucifer. 

Bide  valiant  here,  as  ye  were  valiant  there. 
Whence  came  delightsome  bodies,  soaring  minds, 
That  e'en  would  God's  sublimest  glory  share  ? 
Spring  not  all  seeds  according  to  their  kinds  ? 
Each  act,  each  word,  each  thought,  or  frees  or  binds, 
Dwarfs  or  develops.    Man's  all-crowning  state 
His  own  creation.     What  the  judgment  finds, 
The  soul  reveals.    All  upon  will  must  wait. 
Eternal  agency  the  architect  of  fate. 

Bide  valiant  unto  death ;  for  what  is  death  ? 
The  body's  rest,  the  spirit's  change  of  scene, 
Being's  return  to  where,  ere  soul  drew  breath, 


The  Parted  Veil  147 

It  shone,  and  shineth  aye,  with  added  sheen, 
If  loyal  to  the  end  it  here  hath  been. 
Patience,  and  pardon  all,  though  murder  swell 
With  martyred  gore  yon  river  to  the  main. 
Will  ye  not  grieve  to  gaze  on  souls  in  hell  ? 
Will  ye  not  snatch  them  thence,  as  pity  shall  impel? 

I  saw,  while  justice  showed  the  vision  dire, 
Till  mercy's  hand  let  fall  the  lifted  veil, 
The  doom  of  the  ungodly;  blood  and  fire, 
War,  famine,  pestilence,  as  pelting  hail, 
Smiting  earth's  face  with  desolating  flail. 
And  this  the  mere  beginning  of  their  woe, 
Whose  final  fate  a  doom  the  damned  bewail ; 
While  they  that  follow  Christ  shall  gladly  go 
To  guide  and  save  lost  souls,  groping  in  shades  below. 

Good  fears  not  evil,  grapples  with  it  strong, 
Hell  turns  to  heaven,  the  unclean  purifies; 
For  what  is  ill  but  good — a  right  bent  wrong? 
Passion,  when  pure,  a  power  to  scale  the  skies. 
No  weakling  to  celestial  realms  can  rise. 
*T  is  strength  that  wins  the  goal  of  blessedness ; 
'T  is  knowledge  saves;  't  is  wisdom  glorifies; 
And  bends  intelligence  to  lift  and  bless 
The  fallen,  innocent  till  snared  in  sin's  duress. 

Could  you  but  gaze,  as  truly  I  did  gaze, 
Upon  the  glories  of  the  worlds  of  God, 
Wrapt  in  their  mantles  of  celestial  blaze, 


148  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

The  Father's  fullness  and  the  Son's  abode, 
Won  by  their  feet  who  walk  the  rightful  road, 
Nor  weary  in  well  doing ;  't  were  alone 
Reward  for  all  that  here  hath  been  your  load. 
Forgive — leave  all  to  heaven,  whose  highest  throne 
Theirs  who  make  earth  and  earthliness  the  stepping-stone. 

One  fold  alone  I  lift  of  that  vast  veil : 
How  came  he  God  to  whom  all  Gods  must  bow  ? 
The  very  Sire,  whom  all  the  Sons  now  hail 
As  mightiest  of  the  mighty  ?    I  avow 
That  even  He  was  once  as  we  are  now; 
That  we  like  Him  can  be — yea,  by  degrees 
Mount  unto  loftiest  heights,  till  on  each  brow 
Be  writ  the  Name  of  Names.     Not  angels  these, 
But  Gods,  e'en  Sons  of  God,  through  all  eternities. 

Weighed  in  the  balance  here,  nor  wanting  found ; 
Tried  in  the  fire,  triumphant  from  the  test; 
Though  wrung  their  hearts,  their  finest  feelings  ground, 
Betwixt  life's  upper,  nether  millstones  prest, 
Till  proved,  of  good  and  brave,  the  bravest,  best. 
Less  faith  than  theirs,  than  theirs  who  follow  them, 
Withholding  naught  when  God  hath  made  request, 
Lifts  not  the  gates  of  that  Jerusalem 
Where  David's  throne  endures,  though  haply  not  for  him. 

Where  throned  are  Jacob,  Isaac,  Abraham, 
Who  erred  not,  honoring  celestial  law, 


The  Parted  Veil  149 

The  sovereign  mandate  of  the  Lord,  I  AM; 
Whose  lives  were  pure,  though  sin  finds  many  a  flaw. 
Exalted  these  amid  the  Gods  I  saw, 
With  all  who  would  have  kept  the  covenant, 
Had  they  but  tarried.    Justice  counts  each  straw — 
Weighs  motive,  not  mere  work.    A  thought  may  paint 
The  portrait  of  thy  future,  sinner  thou  or  saint ! 

Farewell !  Abide  in  faith  the  bitter  end ; 
For  bitter  must  it  be  ere  yet 't  is  sweet, 
Farewell !    This  from  your  father,  brother,  friend. 
No  more  your  prophet,  patriarch,  ye  meet, 
Till  here  all  prophets,  patriarchs,  ye  greet, 
Mingling  with  Gods,  while  heaven  on  earth  shall  dwell, 
To  drink  the  wine  of  wisdom  at  His  feet, 
The  Husbandman  and  Vine  of  Israel. 
Thus  saith  the  God  of  Jacob— Joseph's  God.    Farewell! 


What  said, — what  saw — he  more  ?    Did  he  behold 
The  sanguine  deed  that  sealed  his  tragic  fate  ? 
Surged  by  the  flood  of  grief  and  shame  that  rolled 
Above  the  murdered  honor  of  a  State, 
Where  innocence  again  fell  prey  to  hate  ? 
There  be  who  say  he  visioned  all  to  come — 
Forsaken  cities,  weeping,  desolate; 
The  hallowed  fane  defiled,  the  blazing  dome ; 
The  weary  wanderings  far  in  quest  of  peace  and  home. 


150  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

Saw,  then,  and  heard,  while  like  a  clarion  rang 
That  voice ;  while  o'er  a  form  known,  loved,  full  well, — 
A  soul  all  leonine,  as  forth  it  sprang 
Unto  its  place, — the  martyr's  mantle  fell, 
Full  in  the  gaze  of  awe-stunned  Israel. 
God's  lion,  he  whose  path  'mid  mountains  lies; 
Heard  his  loud  call,  the  ringing  trumpet  peal, 
That  now  bids  Ephraim's  trampled  host  arise 
And  pitch  their  pilgrim  tents  afar  'neath  alien  skies. 

Saw,  too,  that  tender,  hopeful  tragedy, 
Pathetic  omen  of  his  tribe's  increase ; 
Nine  mothers  'neath  a  canvas  canopy, 
Nine  new-born  babes,  soft  slumbering  'neath  a  fleece 
Of  moon-lit  frost,  as  buds  that  bide  in  peace 
Till  spring's  warm  breath  take  off  the  covering  cold, 
Protecting  lif e  where  life  hath  seemed  to  cease ; 
Nine  lambs,  fresh  penned  within  the  Saviour's  fold, 
And  like  Him  manger-nursed,  homeless  on  earth's  threshold. 

Like  Him  that  homeless  nation,  born  e'en  so; 
Born  in  a  day;  fate  halting  in  her  flight 
To  watch  the  little  one  a  thousand  grow, 
As  grows  the  torrent  from  the  trickling  height, 
The  blaze  of  noonday  from  the  dawning  light. 
The  birth  throes  of  an  empire,  whose  far  reign, 
Founded  in  feebleness,  soars  past  the  sight 
Of  all  save  prophecy,  while  cities  twain 
Sceptre  the  universe,  with  foot  on  land  and  main. 


The  Parted  Veil 


15* 


Whose  but  a  prophet's  eye  such  end  could  see  ? 
Whose  but  a  prophet's  tongue  the  issue  tell  ? 
A  modern  march  of  ancient  destiny, 
Another  exodus  and  Israel, 
Bidding  his  bonds,  his  all,  save  hope,  farewell; 
Lifting  light's  ensign,  widening  freedom's  fame, 
Where  slavery,  girt  with  darkness,  fain  would  dwell; 
Carving  Columbia's  ever-conquering  name 
Where  looms  the  Aztec's  altar,  quenched  of  its  ancient  flame. 

There  bringing  forth  the  promise  of  thy  land, 
Thesaurus  of  the  West ! — the  prophecy 
Of  glittering  cities  strewn  along  thy  strand, 
Of  splendrous  empires  spreading  from  the  sea. 
Who  gave  thy  early  glories  unto  thee  ? 
The  firstlings  of  thy  fame,  0  flower-crowned  State ! 
Who  made  thee  mighty  as  they  made  thee  free  ? 
By  pick  and  plow  and  press  who  formed  thy  fate  ? 
A  hand  which,  making  thee,  did  more  than  thee  create. 

Fairer  than  thou,  than  all  the  flowery  world, 
A  land  of  desolation's  mystery; 
Where,  fronting  hate  from  every  fortress  hurled, 
Love  wrought  redemption's  rarer  destiny. 
Fairer,  the  desert-born,  whose  dying  sea, 
Whose  bitter  wave  is  as  a  tear,  the  brine 
Of  sorrow  shed  by  her  while  succoring  thee. 
Toil-riven  rock,  now  pouring  milk  and  wine, 
Where  all  was  treeless  waste  and  sun-baked  alkaline. 


152  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

But  who  can  hymn  thy  praise,  0  pioneer! 
Who  harp  thy  merit,  home  of  pure  and  brave ! 
Land  of  the  white-helmed  peak  and  crystal  mere, 
Matchless  'mid  empires  throned  on  mount  or  wave! 
O'er  charms  less  rare,  let  fulsome  minstrels  rave. 
Most  loved  and  lovable  'mid  lands  of  earth ! 
Whose  will  is  forth,  like  thine,  the  world  to  save  ? 
Land  lily-symboled,  land  of  wondrous  worth, 
Land  of  the  Honey-bee,  land  of  my  mortal  birth ! 

Land  prest  by  footprint  of  my  pilgrim  sire; 
Land  visioned  by  my  more  than  sire,  whose  soul 
Swept  the  far  future  with  a  glance  of  fire, 
Bade  hope,  as  memory,  her  page  unroll, 
Beheld  uplifting,  as  a  mighty  scroll, 
The  curtain  from  a  Kingdom  yet  to  be, 
The  crowning  Keystone  of  the  arching  Whole; 
Saw  monarchs  bow,  saw  nations  bend  the  knee, 
Saw  dead  and  risen  time  take  on  eternity. 

Thought's  pioneer,  threading  a  trackless  waste, 
Untrod  by  Truth  a  thousand  years  nigh  twained, 
The  while  men  roamed,  till  morn  the  shadows  chased, 
As  savages  by  untaught  trappers  trained ; 
Blind  leading  blind  where  spirit  darkness  reigned. 
Blazed  he  through  thorny  wold  the  only  way 
That  leadeth  from  the  wild,  showing  how  gained 
The  sterile  ground  to  glory;  his  last  ray 
Pointing  the  Christ-lit  path,  kindling  an  endless  day. 


The  Parted  Veil  153 

Farewell,  great  light !    Farewell,  thou  Godlike  one ! 
Awaits  a  realm  to  hail  a  homing  king. 
Crimson  the  sky  above  thy  sinking  sun, 
Omen  of  golden  dawn  swift  following. 
Death's  winter  promise  of  eternal  spring, 
Celestial  Edens,  empires,  throne  on  throne, 
Where  worlds,  once  wastes,  redeemed,  are  blossoming. 
Future  now  present,  and  the  past  unflown, 
While  all  unguised,  unveiled,  life,  death,  earth,  time,  are  known. 


Epilogue 


155 


wbat  are  bit,  death,  earth,  and  time  to  i 
Eternal  Truth  ?    Thou  goest  on  for  aye 
Lives,  deaths,  earths,  times,  their  plurals  mu 
These  hut  the  bubbles  on  thy  boundless  wave, 
The  sands  of  thy  groat  glass,  the  flickering  gleams 
Of  Hi 

THE  ANGEL  ASCENDANT 

"  Mark  when  the  Bow's  bright  promise  is  withdrawn  I" 

w  fiujre  stars  uvit  set  tnat  straigritway  suns  may  rise* 

Each  ray  of  light,  each  principle  of  power, 
Each  epoch-making  hap  of  history, 
Had  it  a  tongue  would  it  not  testify : 
"  There  cometh  after  me  a  mightier; 
I  but  prepare  the  way  his  face  before ; 
I  but  baptize  with  water,  he  with  fir* 

ow  tells  not  the  past  this 

Which  yet  the  future  shall  procla  >rov*  ? 

Progress  eterne !  thou  goest  hand  in  hand 
With  life  eterne,  and  naught  but  death  e'er  dies 

Thou  Angel,  there  ascending  from  the  Bint, 

That  criest  unto  four, 

Till  we  the  servants 

Who  art  thou  and  why  risest  •• 


Epilogue 


UT  what  are  life,  death,  earth,  and  time  to  thee, 
Eternal  Truth  ?    Thou  goest  on  for  aye. 
Lives,  deaths,  earths,  times,  their  plurals  multifold, 
These  but  the  bubbles  on  thy  boundless  wave, 
The  sands  of  thy  great  glass,  the  flickering  gleams 
Of  lif e  that  knows  nor  origin  nor  end ; 
These  but  the  sparks  flung  from  thy  flaming  forge, 
The  falling  star-dust  of  thy  firmament, 
Where  stars  but  set  that  straightway  suns  may  rise. 

Each  ray  of  light,  each  principle  of  power, 
Each  epoch-making  hap  of  history, 
Had  it  a  tongue  would  it  not  testify : 
"  There  cometh  after  me  a  mightier; 
I  but  prepare  the  way  his  face  before ; 
I  but  baptize  with  water,  he  with  fire  "  ? 
Till  now  tells  not  the  past  this  oft-told  tale, 
Which  yet  the  future  shall  proclaim  and  prove  ? 
Progress  eterne !  thou  goest  hand  in  hand 
With  life  eterne,  and  naught  but  death  e'er  dies. 

Thou  Angel,  there  ascending  from  the  East, 
That  criest  unto  four,  Hurt  not,  but  spare, 
Till  we  the  servants  of  our  God  have  sealed ! 
Who  art  thou  and  why  risest  now  to  view  ? 

157 


158  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

"  I  am  that  Voice  which  crieth  in  the  Waste; 
That  wandereth  through  all  worlds,  invisible ; 
That  sayeth  unto  all,  Prepare,  prepare, 
Behold  He  cometh !    Go  ye  out  to  meet. 

"  As  His,  my  goings  forth  are  from  of  old. 
Redeemer  He,  Restorer  I,  of  all. 

"  Came  I  by  one,  morn's  twilight  messenger, 
Time's  earliest  voice  from  out  eternity, 
Opening  the  way  by  water  and  by  fire, 
Whereby  the  fallen  Michael  rose  again; 
Anon  by  one,  translation's  pioneer, 
Pilot  terrestrial,  seer  of  the  sanctified, 
Crest  of  a  dispensation  Enoch-crowned. 

"  Wrought  I  through  him  whom  Gods  name  Gabriel, 
The  Noah  of  a  world  once  water-doomed, 
By  whom  was  earth  besprent  with  life  anew, 
Nor  less  with  light  from  truth's  rekindled  flame ; 
Still  burning,  though  with  error's  incense  dimmed, 
And  fouled  with  alien  fire  in  many  lands. 

"  Wrought  I  through  him  whom  men  call  Abraham, 
The  root  of  Shiloh — righteous  branch  of  Shem, 
In  whom  salvation,  gracious  gift,  inheres. 
Quarry  of  Jacob,  rock  whence  he  was  hewn, 
Type  of  the  spirit  Stone  of  Israel, — 
Sire  of  the  Church  God-gotten  and  His  own. 
Blesser  of  races  with  believing  blood ; 


Epilogue  159 

Sprinkler  of  spirits  faithful  o'er  the  world; 
Ocean  of  nations,  fountain-ward  that  flow, 
As  the  soiled  floods  unto  the  filtering  sea. 

"  Led  I  the  prophet  pilot  sent  to  save — 

To  part  the  wave  'twixt  chains  and  liberty; 

As  lead  shall  I  anon  the  one  beloved, 

Who  yet  must  captain  home  captivity. 

Smote  I  by  him  who  carved  to  Canaan's  land, 

Whose  sword  gave  Israel  his  inheritance, 

Whose  high  behest  e'en  day  and  night  obeyed, 

On  Gibeon,  in  the  Vale  of  Ajalon. 

Blazed  I  through  him  who  flamed  as  fire  from  heaven 

At  Kishon's  brook,  where  sunk  the  pride  of  Baal; 

Sealer,  unsealer,  of  the  heavenly  gates, 

Renewer  of  the  worship  primal,  pure. 

My  hand  in  his,  the  anointed,  named  ere  born, 

To  sunder  brazen-gated  Babylon, 

And  symbolize  a  world  deliverance. 

Beamed  I  by  him,  the  Moon  that  bathed  in  blood, 

When  set  of  yore  the  Sun  of  Righteousness; 

Baptist  with  water  I,  as  He  with  fire. 

"  Then  burst  the  long-sealed  sky  o'er  head  of  him, 

Revealed  to  whom  were  holy  Sire  and  Son, 

And  angel  guardian  of  the  Book  of  Gold. 

Mine,  mine  the  hand  that  gave  the  Kingdom's  keys, 

Lifting  an  ensign  for  the  gathering ; 

Beginning  of  an  ending  yet  to  be, 


160  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

When  I  a  second  time  shall  set  my  hand, 

Judah,  as  Joseph,  joining  to  the  fold, 

And  long-lost  tribes  and  remnants  ransoming ; 

Promise  of  world-wide  peace  and  unity, 

And  presage  of  assemblage  mightier, 

A  congress  of  the  Gods,  a  conference 

From  suns  and  stars, — yon  Zions  and  their  stakes. 

"  Came  I  anon  the  Abrahamic  keys, 
The  Abrahamic  covenant  to  restore ; 
That  Jacob,  to  the  end  increasing  still, 
Might  be  as  sands  and  stars  for  multitude. 
Loomed  I  by  him  who  there  gave  life  to  give 
The  warning  unto  Ephraim,  God's  first-born ; 
Truth,  telling  of  the  rise  of  Righteousness, 
Great  daystar,  heralding  a  greater  Dawn. 

"  Wrought  I  through  him,  uncoverer  of  the  West, 
Stronger  than  storms,  mightier  than  wind  or  wave ; 
Through  him  whose  pen  of  fire  thy  country  freed ; 
Through  him  whose  blade  the  blood-bought  soil  redeemed. 

"  Came  I  to  thee,  lone  muser  on  the  mount, 

Invoker  of  the  Voice  now  visible ! 

My  minstrel, — I  thy  Muse.     Dost  know  me  now  ? 

"  All,  all  that  make  for  freedom  and  for  peace, 
That  loose  the  captive  and  the  lost  restore, 
That  teach,  in  part  or  whole,  Eternal  Truth, 


Epilogue  161 

Or  wing  the  drooping  soul  with  melody; — 
All  these  my  ministers,  who  aid  my  aims. 
Elias  I,  their  tasks  Elias-given. 

"  Spirit  of  progress,  speeding  on  for  aye; 
Gleam  of  the  glory  of  Omnipotence; 
Hand  of  the  Arm  omnific — cause  of  all ; 
A  mighty  making  way  for  Mightier. 

"  Come  I  again,  again,  His  courier, — 
Jehovah's  Ancient  Covenant  Messenger, — 
Till  plenal  powers  of  great  Melchisedek 
The  fullness  of  the  glory  here  unfold, 
Whelming,  0  earth,  as  once  with  watery  wave, 
Thy  form  with  fire  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost; 
Sealing,  unsealing,  binding  o'er  and  o'er, 
Till  all  is  order  and  all  things  in  place ; 
Coming  as  Jacob  upon  Esau's  heel, 
Eternity  upon  the  trail  of  Time. 

"  Await  my  word  destroyers  four,  that  give 
The  Gospel,  God's  last  warning  unto  man, 
By  fitting  ministers, — each  class  its  kind, — 
The  Gospel  Everlasting,  ere  the  end. 

Await  likewise  the  thousands,  twelve  times  twelve, 
Who  for  the  coming  King  the  way  prepare ; 
Building  the  highway  for  Messiah's  feet, 
And  wheresoe'er  He  fareth,  following. 


1 62  An  Epic  of  the  Ages 

"  Hold  I  the  signet  of  the  living  God- 
Lift  unto  light,  or  hurl  to  darkness  down. 
The  hour  is  imminent.    Heed  well  the  sign. 
Mark  when  the  Bow's  bright  promise  is  withdrawn ! " 

Enough,  I  know  thee,  strong  and  mighty  one, 

That  standeth  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 

That  leadeth  Israel  from  bondage  old, 

That  lif teth  up  the  ensign  unto  all ! 

Know  thee,  thou  Muse  and  Minstrel  of  the  mount, 

Thou  Harper  on  the  hills  of  melody  ? 

I  know  thee,  and  am  here  to  work  thy  will, 

To  hymn  thy  praise,  perchance  behold  thy  power, 

When,  iris-crowned  and  clothed  as  with  a  cloud, 

Thy  face  the  sun,  thy  feet  as  pillared  fire, 

Thou  comest  down  from  heaven  and  swearest  by 

Eternity  that  time  shall  be  no  more. 

Ancient  of  Ages!    Angel  of  the  East ! 
Spirit  of  Promise !     Prophet  of  the  Dawn ! 


LD  21A-40m-ll,'63 
(E1602slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  Californis 

Berkeley 


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